A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court, opposing the Chennai Corporation’s proposal to set up flea markets on its playgrounds.
The petitioner, A.P. Suryaprakasam, an advocate in Royapettah, said the city had lost several big lakes and open spaces due to rampant encroachments, abetted by politicians. Chennai now had 260 public parks and 228 playfields, as per the civic body’s website. Due to an insufficient number of playgrounds, children were suffering.
That being the case, the petitioner said, he was shocked to know the Corporation had proposed to set up flea markets in public playgrounds and parks. The move was against the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Bangalore City Development case regarding the use of public parks. He had sent a representation to the Corporation commissioner on June 2. There was no reply. Hence, this PIL. Unless the proposal was stopped, public grounds would be commercialised. Residents would be put to great hardship, the petitioner said.
The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Satish K. Agnihotri and Justice M.M. Sundresh, directed the Corporation to respond in a week.
