The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Unplanned development takes a toll on playfields, open spaces

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 04, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Unplanned development takes a toll on playfields, open spaces

K. Manikandan

— Photo: A. Muralitharan

ADEQUATE FACILITIES: Annai Anjugam Park in Maruti Nagar at Sembakkam town panchayat is one of the well-maintained parks in southern suburbs.

TAMBARAM: Vast open spaces and playfields have been one of the major victims of the onslaught of unplanned development and urban planning in the southern suburbs of Chennai.

Amid encouraging, but rare instances of public, private and government participation in giving a new lease of life to developing parks, most notified areas of open spaces are languishing, serving as cattle rearing sheds and as the ideal den for anti-social elements.

During a public consultative meeting on the draft second Master Plan of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority held here some weeks ago, activists did not mince their words to lash out at the failure of the government agency on creation of parks and playfields.

The draft plan, speakers said, had simply acknowledged the need for creation of more open spaces and parks and playfields, but did not spell out a clear action plan on how to achieve the objective.

Activists acknowledged the role of CMDA for sanctioning funds under the Community Based Environment Development programme for creation and maintenance of parks, for instance at Tiruthani Nagar in Pallavaram Municipality.

But more than that, there was no specific action plan. Urban local bodies were simply to maintain existing parks, let alone creating new ones.

Tambaram Municipality, which was once endowed with lush green areas, has been struggling to provide a breath of fresh air to its residents.

Tiruppur Kumaran Park in Selaiyur, Professor’s Colony Park in East Tambaram and the Muthurangam Park in West Tambaram are nothing more than a dense overgrowth of vegetation and a convenient parking lot. Though Municipal officials have prepared Blueprints for a couple of parks at a cost of a some lakhs of rupees, their present condition is appalling.

At the same time, Town Panchayats such as Sembakkam, Chitlapakkam and Pallikaranai have taken the lead in establishing ‘model parks’ that residents and administrators would be proud of. The Annai Anjugam Park at Maruthi Nagar in Sembakkam Town Panchayat was developed on a 2.25-acre site.

A.R.D.Loganathan, Town Panchayat president, said a sum of Rs. 25 lakh was spent to develop the park, which now has a fountain, library, a well-equipped children’s play area, a walker’s track with illumination, volleyball and badminton courts.

Of the project cost, Rs. 14.3 lakh was spent from the local body’s fund, while the rest was funded by private companies.

The park was inaugurated by Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin in July. An official note from K.Gopal, Director of Town Panchayats said 10 such parks were created in 8 town panchayats in Kancheepuram district.

While welcoming such initiatives from the State Government agencies, activists said the present condition of parks in the southern suburbs of Chennai was solely due to unplanned development. Creation of news parks and playfield and proper maintenance of existing ones should get as much priority as other amenities, activists said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail