Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Ooty Begins Crackdown, Seals Six Illegal Tourist Cottages
Officials in Ooty have started checking tourist cottages and homestays for illegal construction.
They sealed six properties in the first phase.
The properties were accused of breaking special building rules for hill areas.
Some people reportedly received permission to build homes and later changed them into tourist businesses.
Commercial buildings in the hills need approval from special authorities.
Social groups and environmental activists had complained about the problem.
The Madras High Court had also directed officials to act.
Activists want every unauthorised tourist property to be found and closed.
Ooty municipal officials sealed six tourist cottages allegedly operating illegally within municipal limits.
The properties reportedly violated Hill Station Building Rules and lacked required commercial construction permissions.
Owners allegedly obtained approval for residential houses before converting them into tourist cottages or homestays.
The action followed complaints from social organisations and green activists, along with Madras High Court directions.
Activists urged officials to identify and close all unauthorised cottages, homestays and guest houses.
- Who
- Ooty municipal administration officials, following complaints from social organisations and green activists.
- What
- Officials began a crackdown on illegal tourist cottages and sealed six properties.
- When
- The report gives no specific date; it says the action has now begun after earlier enforcement moved slowly.
- Where
- Within Ooty’s municipal limits.
- Why
- The properties allegedly violated Hill Station Building Rules, and officials were responding to complaints and Madras High Court directions.
Enforcement Advocates
Property Operators’ Position
Action against unauthorised properties
Enforcement Advocates
Green activists and social organisations want officials to identify and immediately close tourist properties operating without the required permissions.
Property Operators’ Position
The article does not provide statements from the owners or operators of the sealed properties.
Residential-area conversions
Enforcement Advocates
Officials and activists say residential houses have been converted into tourist cottages, bypassing hill-area building rules.
Property Operators’ Position
The article does not report how the property owners respond to the allegations or whether they dispute the classifications.
- First-phase action
- Six illegal tourist cottages were sealed.
- Authority taking action
- Ooty municipal administration.
- Rules cited
- Hill Station Building Rules (HSBR).
- Required permissions
- Commercial hill construction requires district-level committee permission and approval from the Hill Area Conservation Authority in Chennai.
- Alleged practice
- Some residential houses were reportedly converted into tourist cottages or homestays.
- Earlier enforcement
- The crackdown had progressed slowly despite Madras High Court directions.
- Activists’ demand
- Officials should identify and close all unauthorised tourist cottages, homestays and guest houses.