OOTY: The century-old conservatory, popularly known as the old glass house at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG), which was featured in many films, is in shambles now.
The horticulture administration has failed to take up any measures to renovate the glass house which suffered damage during the rains a month ago after an uprooted tree fell on it.
The conservatory located above the Italian garden area in the GBG was constructed during British rule in 1912 when plants and flowers that grow under diffused light and controlled conditions are grown and exhibited round the year to charm visitors. A part of the famed song "Unadhu Vizhiyil Enadhu Parvai" in the MGR-starrer "Naan Yen Pirandhen" was shot in the conserv-atory in the early 1970s.
While the other glass house constructed in 1995 in the front portion of the GBG also has been closed for the past six months for renovation, this century-old conservatory had been treating visitors all these days. But, unfortunately, this too has been closed now.
Mr.S.Janardhanan, president of the Ooty Town Public Awareness Association, said that this conservatory is a heritage structure in the GBG and asked for intervention of the district collector as well as horticulture higher ups in Chennai for speedy action to renovate and restore this old conservatory to its olden glory.
