Till the early 1990s, the park at Viraganoor regulator was a thriving picnic spot that attracted a large number of visitors, recalls M. Kannan, a resident of Kalmedu for the past 40 years. “The park had a well-maintained garden with rows of rose plants, a water fountain and play equipment for children. In the evenings, boys used to sell sundal and families used to have a good time. But, today, it is in a shambles,” he says.
Located about eight km from Madurai, the Viraganoor regulator is the second among the three regulators that channelise the Vaigai water. Until the 1990s, it was a perfect getaway spot for the residents. A trip to the regulator was a compulsory entry for schools in their academic calendar.
But, today, due to poor maintenance, the park presents a withered look.
There is a wild growth of thorny shrubs all along the park. It is littered with plastic cups, bags and food wrappers.
The concrete benches are broken and the water fountains remain dysfunctional. Mounds of dry leaves are found throughout the park and there are no signs of any play equipment for children.
Currently, the regulator serves merely as a link for the villagers of Sakkimangalam, Kalmedu, Kalanjiyam Nagar to the highway.
With a dearth of open spaces in the city, the residents are demanding the revival of the park to make it an attractive tourist spot.
The regulator
The regulator was inaugurated by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in November 1975.
The need for a regulator was felt, as earlier the supply of Vaigai water to Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts was unregulated, says former Executive Engineer of Public Works Department S. Suthanthira Amalraj.
The regulator diverts water into the Right Main Canal that runs for a distance of 46 km and feeds 60 tanks. The Left Main Canal has a length of 30 km and feeds 27 tanks. The canals have a total ayacut area of 40,743 acres.
The regulator also helps in diverting water during flood, explains Mr. Amalraj.
“In a situation when there is excess water at Ramnad Big Tank, surplus water is discharged into Kiruthumal river through a vent that is present at the regulator,” he says.
The contrast
This regulator was once a hangout for families entering the city from Ramanathapuram, says Mr. Kannan. “After a long tiring journey, they would have their lunch under the shade of the trees at the park and then proceed towards the city,” he says.
V.P. Manikandan, a resident of S.S. Colony recalls that in 1988 when he was a Class 4 student, special NCC camps were held at the park.
But, today, school students who come from even Sivaganga and Virudhunagar districts return disappointed due to the poor upkeep of the park, says K. Kesavan, a shopkeeper near the park. “There are big old trees present in the park. All they have to do is to regularly undertake maintenance of the park,” he says.
The other main problem is the discharge of sewage into the Vaigai from several outlets in the city.
Rise in discharge
A PWD official says that for the past eight years, the discharge of sewage from areas like Anna Nagar, K.K. Nagar and Teppakulam has increased.
As a result, sewage gets stagnated on the flanks of the regulator. Water hyacinth, which thrives only on contaminated water, is found on the flanks of the regulator. “The stench from the stagnated sewage has also deterred people from visiting the regulator,” says Mr. Kesavan.
The PWD official says that the groundwater quality has deteriorated due to stagnation of sewage for years. “This can also be a reason for the plants at the park getting withered,” he says.
A tourist hub
If the officials develop and maintain the park properly, it has the potential to become an attractive tourist spot like Vaigai dam, says Mr. Manikandan.
“The officials can even opt for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop and handle the upkeep of the park. For further maintenance they can also collect a nominal fee from the visitors,” he adds.
A PWD Assistant Engineer says that the department had prepared an estimate worth ₹3 crore for renovating the park.
