Collector, former SP awarded Nilgiri Conservation Award

Udhagamandalam: On World Environmental Day, collector J Innocent Divya and former superintendent of police, the Niligiris district, Murali Rambha were awarded Nilgiri Conservation Award for 2017 for their dedicated efforts to mobilize the participation of people to protect the ecology, culture and heritage of the district.

“Their combined endeavour and team work in successful organization of the Summer Festival- 2018 in an innovative, participative and orderly manner have earned the affection and appreciation of residents of the hill station as well as visitors,” said Dharmalingam Venugopal, director of Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC), which along with Citizen Groups of Nilgiris presented the award in a function held at Hotel Sullivan Court on Tuesday.

Receiving the award from Dr Vanaja Krishnan, a well-known paediatrician from the hill station, Divya said, “While I set my foot on the hills, I fell in love with it. Enforcement of laws in connection with environment is not easy, if people do not cooperate. So people’s support is the main reason for the successful implementation of banning of plastics, use of earth-movers and digging of wells.”

The award carried a plaque, citation and portrait of the awardee by pencil sketch artist Gokul Gowder.

Murali Rambha, who was transferred a week ago, will be given the award on later date.