Wall cleaned up by volunteers in Ooty but AIADMK cadre deface it again

UDHAGAMANDALAM: A wall that was recently cleaned in Ooty town has now been defaced with graffiti once again. Residents are upset, more so because political parties are defacing walls running through the hill town.
The wall that flanks one side of Spencer Road, was recently cleaned and painted by a group of women volunteers, as part of their weekly social activity.In February, a few AIADMK cadres tried to stall the cleanup by verbally abusing the volunteers. A case was even registered in connection with this incident. Despite these difficulties, the volunteers managed to clean up the wall.
However, four months after the wall was painted over, AIADMK men have started putting up posters in favour of Amma. "This is shocking. When public property is cleaned up by a group of volunteers, political parties should act more responsibly," said a senior citizen on condition of anonymity.
"It is the lethargic attitude of the civic authorities that encourages these party cadres to deface the walls," said S Baburaj, another resident. S Vinayagam, Ooty town inspector told TOI, "An enquiry is underway in connection with the issue".
Though the road passing through the town falls under NH 67, the footpath and the side walls are maintained by the municipality. The municipal engineer and municipal commissioner-in-charge told TOI that he is yet to identify the actual stretch where the wall has been defaced. Ironically, Spencer's Road is the only national highway passing through the town which leads to the Nilgiris Collectorate and connects the Ooty Municipal Office via Commissioner's Road.
Despite several attempts made, the AIADMK district secretary S Kalaiselvan was not available for comment. His name appears on the defaced walls.