The corporation is completing park development projects in several wards to boost the number of open spaces.
According to a progress report published on March 19 by the corporation, six projects that were sanctioned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in 2015-16 have been completed and are in use.
Children’s parks in Duraisamy Nagar, Ellis Nagar, Jai Nagar, Anaiyur and Semparuthi Nagar have been provided with basic play equipment, compound walls, renovated pathways and borewells.
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Contractors working on the project were paid a total of ₹1.60 crore with funds released from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
The status of parks chosen for redevelopment in 2016-17 including those in Surya Nagar, Anna Nagar, the Eco Park, Joseph Park in Balarangapuram and TVS Nagar Park is 90 % complete, says Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar.
If contractors fail to adhere to the deadline of March 31, they will be penalised, he said. Contractors were asked to pay a total of ₹5,000 on March 9 for their default on the previous deadline.
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Work orders have been issued to five other parks proposed for the years 2017-2020, says the report. These parks in Ellis Nagar, HMS Colony, Singarayar Colony, Ramanasri Colony and Santosh Nagar, with an allocation of ₹2.4 crore, will be equipped with special seating arrangements.
They will be futuristic parks providing a plush environment for the citizens, says a senior official from the Engineering Department.
With such plans and a big budget, how does the City Corporation maintain these spaces?
There are a total of 202 parks, allocated spaces and empty parks under the purview of the corporation. Of these, 52 have been developed, say corporation officials.
The new green spaces to be constructed will foster an environment of inclusive growth and learning, says an official from the Engineering Department. The play area will be a welcome change from the gadget driven world and will enable physical movement, he adds.
The upkeep for each park is pegged at ₹1.5 to 2 lakh every month. Gardeners sweep pathways and clear excess weeds and inspect the status of utilities and other machines including the borewell. Some parks are managed by contractors. During summer, water tankers are deployed to cater to the maintenance of these parks. A total of ₹5 is collected as entry fee and ₹10 for parking.
However, an authority who helps maintaining the Ellis Nagar park says that more money must be pumped in to make the space greener.
The grass grows wildly and flowering plants are rare. He says that the play equipment require regular oiling and checking. This process is carried out only once a year during a major inspection, he says. Dancing fountains in Eco Park, the largest in Madurai, spread over an area of 2.2 acres, do not function.
The boating service which was supposed to be a major tourist attraction has been suspended.
Without regular inspection of smaller parks and maintenance of large parks, the objective of greener city cannot be achieved easily.