A children’s park at Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Pammal, which is also one of the oldest children’s parks in the neighbourhood, is in a derelict state. The park has been turned into a dumping ground. Residents as well as the passers-by dump all kinds of waste in the park, thereby making the park unusable. The park is also shorn of its greenery. And it stinks. The walkway is littered with cow-dung.
Residents of Nandanar Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Pammal, have requested the Pammal Municipality to maintain the park properly. The other closest park for these residents is found found near Cantonment Office, Cattle Shandy Road, Pallavaram, which is quite far away. R. Subramanian, a resident of Thiruvalluvar Nagar, says, “The park has not been maintained for many years. Children and senior citizens are not able to use the park, as the play equipment and benches are damaged and rusted. After sunset, the park becomes an open bar for tipplers and a den for anti-social elements. Steps must be taken to clean the park and a security personnel must be deployed there.”
The entry and exit points of the park are littered with trash, including tree logs. N. Sreekanth, president, All India Human Rights, Kancheepuram district, and a resident of the locality, says, “I have sent several representations to the municipal authorities regarding maintenance of the park.” Residents complain that at times garbage is set on fire. “Indiscriminate dumping and burning of garbage pose health hazards to residents of the locality. Due to non-clearance of garbage, mosquitoes swarm and a foul smell emanates from the stretch, forcing people to avoid the park,” Subramanian added. When contacted, a senior officer of the Municipality said efforts would be taken at the earliest to restore the park.
