The Chennai Corporation will construct pedestrian pathways at the Urban Forest and Herbal Park in Otteri, Mayor M. Subramanian said on Friday.
Responding to a complaint from Ward 60 councillor M. Samikannu that some persons claiming ownership of the land were trying to sell it, the Mayor said public was not allowed into the park as herbs were being grown there.
“In the 2010-11 budget, we can allocate funds for the project to provide pathways, benches and lighting. Then the park will be opened to the public. Creation of these facilities will attract people to the park and keep out anti-social elements,” he said. He was addressing a review meeting for Corporation Zone 4 (Ayanavaram).
Mr. Subramanian reviewed various works, including construction of stormwater drains, working of streetlights, functioning of schools and noon meal centres, in all the wards - No. 50 to 63 - in the zone. He said that such review meetings would be conducted for the other nine zones too. Before the coming budget, a meeting with leaders of all parties and zone chairmen would also be held to ascertain their views on the facilities required in various zones.
Ward 62 councillor M. Shenbagavalli said that though contract for constructing a compound wall around the Kolathur burial ground was awarded over a year ago, the work was yet to be taken up. “The area has been encroached upon by people. It has been a long pending issue for residents of the area,” she said.
She also complained that the construction of a compound wall of a noon meal centre on GKM Colony 37th Street could not be taken as some association also functioned from there and refused to shift.
“It is misusing the premises and in the mornings the mothers and children find it difficult to enter the Balwadi.”
Ward 55 councillor Thangaraj said that rainwater stagnation was a major problem in the ward. In response, the Mayor said that stormwater drains for over 2.5 km would be constructed in the area under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission at a cost of Rs.16 crore. Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni and Joint Commissioner Ashish Chatterjee participated in the meeting.
Earlier, Mr. Subramanian inspected the progress of work on Perambur flyover. He said that the work was on schedule.
At least one park would be developed before the inauguration in March, he added.
