For well over ten years, residents of Mookambigai Nagar in Thiruverkadu Municipality have been waiting for a park in their neighbourhood.
According to the office-bearers of Sree Moogambigai Nagar Residents Welfare Association, though funds were allotted three years ago for the creation of a park, work is yet to begin.
M. Rajamanickam, the association’s secretary, says: “Mookambigai Nagar became a CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority) approved layout in 1999 and after 2005, many houses and apartment complexes have come up in and around the neighbourhood. Yet, a space for recreation is still missing inMookambigai Nagar.”
Without a park for themselves, residents of Mookambigai Nagar are visiting parks in other colonies.
“In all the localities surrounding Mookambigai Nagar, which include Ashok Nandavanam, Balaji Nagar, ChellamalNagar and Maruthi Nagar, there are well-developed parks. We don’t understand why the Municipality should drag its feet on the project,” says K.G. Selva Ganesh, another resident.
Some residents go on walks within Mookambigai Nagar instead of going to parks in other colonies.
“Though I go for a morning walk within our colony, I don’t enjoy it as the roads are in a sorry state and heavy vehicles are parked along interior roads,” adds Rajamanickam A year ago, the Association spent around Rs. 4,000 to trim the trees and clear the overgrown grass on a piece of land that is meant for creation of a park. Yet, the place has again fallen into a state of neglect and anti-socials find it a convenient place.
The Association president, M. Balasubramanian, who resides at Fourth Main Road, says, “During night, we have seen strangers using the space to consume alcohol. So, we expect the Municipality to fence the property at the earliest.”
The lack of common space such as a community hall is an issue bothering residents of Mookambigai Nagar. Without a common facility, residents organise social get-togethers and meetings on interior roads.
J. Raja, a resident of Fourth Cross Street, says, “Last year, when we celebrated Independence Day, we did not hoist the flag as it is not appropriate to do it on the road. The games were conducted on the road.”
G. Bhuvaaneswari, a resident of Second Street says, “Once the Municipality develops the park, we have plans to further spruce it up by having an herbal garden and have a reading room.”
