Walkers are keeping away from the Thangal park in Vijayalakshmipuram, Ambattur Old Town. The reason: For over a fortnight, the clogged open drain inside the park has been emanating an unbearable stench.
But for this problem, the park has been a boon for residents of Vijayalakshmipuram, Menambedu and Abiramapuram who walk and practise yoga and meditation here. It is the only lung space for them. The next nearest park is around five kilometres away in Krishnapuram, near TI Cycles.
“Residents, especially children and senior citizens, love to spend time at the park as it is spacious, has a small lake at the centre and is surrounded by trees,” said S. Mahalakshmi, a resident of Ambattur.
Originally, the century-old lake, which is also known as Chithu Oragadam Eri, was spread over 60 acres. Water from the lake was used to irrigate thousands of farmlands in the neighbourhood. Then a series of residential colonies came up in the vicinity to provide accommodation for workers at the Industrial Estate, around three kilometres from the Old Town of Ambattur. But there was no common drainage system. Residents living around the waterbody found it convenient to discharge sewage into the freshwater lake resulting in its contamination. Encroachments also ate into the lake.
Today, the lake, including the park, is just around six acres.
Two years ago, a massive renovation was undertaken by the Zone-7 (Ambattur) at a cost of Rs. 62 lakh. Tiled footpath, seating arrangements, lighting around the lake, a separate concrete stage for yoga, shuttle and sculpture courts, toilets for men and women and water taps were placed. A sunken seating arrangement for seniors was also made. Further, saplings were planted around the walking area.
During the renovation, illegal sewage inlets from houses in the neighbourhood were plugged.
Separate drain was laid in the park to channelise the sewage to open, unused lands in the locality.
However, the channel is clogged due to which sewage is stagnating.
“We will take steps to de-clog the drain. Also, we will find an alternative to divert the waste water from the park premises,” said a Corporation official.
