For 71-year-old A.S. Ramakrishnan, there is no end in sight for the decade-old struggle for a neighbourhood park. Along with other residents of the All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) Nagar in Mogappair West, Ramakrishnan has been tirelessly lobbying with the Corporation for the much-needed lung space. But their request for a park has not been accorded priorty.
Spread over 930 sq mt, the space is an open space reservation (OSR) land that is meant for developing a park and a playground for residents of AIBEA Nagar.
The land was transferred to the then Ambattur Municiaplity through a gift deed in 1997. After the merger of the municipality with the Corporation, the land came under the civic body’s control.
However, no efforts were taken to create a park. “At my age, it is difficult even to travel a short distance. Nevertheless, I travelled to the local zonal office and to the Corporation’s headquarters at Ripon Buildings many a time, alone and also with a group of residents, urging the officials to go fast on the project. But, we were given only promises,” said Ramakrishnan, who is also a member of the AIBEA Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association.
In fact, the AIBEA was developed by the members of the Tamil Nadu Bank Employees’ Welfare Society when they settled in the neighbourhood two decades ago.
Now, with the space lying idle, many have started misusing it. During the day, the park is home to miscreants who squat there.
After sunset, drunkards and others throng the park and create nuisance. Of late, passers-by have turned the park into an open toilet. Parents don’t allow their children anywhere near the park for fear of snakes inside the overgrown bushes. Instead, they play on the busy road.
A portion of the land is also being used to dump waste and construction debris.
On contacting the Corporation, an official said: “A detailed project to develop a park in the open space will be made soon. Funds will also be allotted for the project.”
