A clutch of 28 parks maintained by the Thanjavur Corporation are now a sylvan sight with attractive idols to rev up the looks. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami declared open those parks where refurbishing works were completed during his recent visit on the occasion of the MGR Centenary celebrations.
Soon after its upgradation as City Corporation, Thanjavur local body planners were intent on shoring up the civic image of the temple town that attracts thousands of overseas visitors annually. While the world famous Big Temple, Saraswati Mahal Library and the palace complex lure foreigners, numerous temples and sacred spots draw inland tourists and pilgrims to the region. That necessitated the sprucing up of the city’s image for which renovation of the parks were felt integral.
Following that proposals were forwarded to renovate 19 parks in the city under the Town and Country Planning Development Funds at an estimated cost of ₹3.78 crore while the Central Government’s support was sought to re-invigorate nine other parks at a cost of ₹ 4.78 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme, observed Thanjavur Corporation Commissioner Varadarajan.
Those parks that were renovated under the Town and Country Planning Development Scheme funds included the Rajaraja Cholan Park, Millennium Park, the Old Collectorate Museum Park, TT Nagar, SA Anandan Nagar, New Cauvery Nagar, LIC Colony, Pon Nagar, Arjun Nagar, Karrnugil Nagar, Municipal Colony, Old Housing Unit, TPS Nagar, Arulananda Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Kurinji Nagar, Yagappa Nagar, Neithal, Marudam and Cooperative Colony parks at a total cost of Rs. 3.78 crore.
Those recreation spots renovated through funds from the AMRUT Scheme included the Kurinji Nagar Park (Ward 51) at a cost of ₹84.50 lakh, Housing Unit Park (Ward 41) costing ₹ 62.40 lakh, Arulananda Ammal Nagar Park (Ward 42) at an estimated cost of ₹ 67.10 lakh, Arulananda Nagar Eighth Cross Park at ₹57.50 lakh and Cooperative Colony Park at a cost of ₹ 46 lakh, Mr. Varadarajan said.
More proposals
The Commissioner also indicated that the local body has forwarded proposals under AMRUT 2018 to 2020 for renovating four other parks in the city at a combined cost of ₹3.02 crore.
“No doubt the parks are gleaming in green. Children are enjoying the play equipment and impressive idols in the renovated parks. While lauding the Thanjavur Corporation for decking up the city, we would like to caution that maintaining them in the present condition is quite a task. We believe handing over the rejuvenated parks to corporate bodies and eligible private entities for maintenance could ensure that they remain vibrant and colourful for more years to come,” points out marketing professional S. Prakash of Municipal Colony, reflecting the will of the citizens.
