The closure of city’s two parks, V.O. Chidambaranar Park (V.O.C. Park) and the Children’s Park for renovation work for the past two months have irked the people as there is no recreational facility available here.
The municipality, formed in 1871 was elevated to Special Grade municipality in 1980 and later upgraded as Corporation from January 1, 2008.
With the current population of about five lakh spread across 60 wards, unlike other cities, recreational facility is absent in the city as residents were demanding establishing green parks, boating facility at the water bodies located inside the city and other facilities where residents along with their family could spend their leisure time. However, in the absence of such facilities they have to depend on the VOC Park that was established in 1920’s at a 25-acre land and the children’s park adjacent to it.
But these two parks were closed by the corporation last month as it had proposed to carry out development works to the tune of ₹6.42 crore under the Smart City Mission. Residents along with their families and people from various parts of the district come to the park in large numbers during summer vacation.
“But keeping the parks locked and denying visitors during vacation time are not acceptable,” said Rabeena Banu, who used to regularly visit the children’s park with her children. She said that poor planning by the corporation has led to closure of the parks during vacations as the middle-income groups were the most affected.
Both these parks were closed in the first week of April for carrying out the works that were scheduled to be completed in six months. However, work is yet to begin causing inconvenience to the visitors. “Since no works were carried out, the civic body should have opened it at least during the vacation. But keeping it locked will not serve anyone,” said V. Kumar of Soolai. He said that these parks, located near bus stand and in the heart of the city, is easily accessible from various parts of the city by buses and visitors need not spend much.
However, officials said that only after the withdrawal of model code of conduct, work will begin and the parks could not be maintained till then as no contractors were available for short period.
