Rain, rain go away, kids want to play

Due to the lack of stormwater drains in Arul Nagar park, the play area becomes unusable after a downpour

The garden and children’s play area get affected in a downpour and (above) a view of the garden before the rain. Photos: special arrangement

Arul Nagar park in Irumbuliyur is picturesque. Besides functional play equipments, benches for walkers and Light Emitting Dioxide (LED) lamps, the park has a eye-catching garden abutting the walkway, which has been laid with paver blocks.

However, this park morphs into a eyesore, following a shower, light or heavy. Reason: the park lacks stormwater drains (SWDs) to drain out excess rainwater.

Residents of Irumbuliyur have made an appeal to the Tambaram Municipality to ensure SWDs are constructed at the park, which falls under Ward 27 of the Tambaram Municipality.

P. Vijayasarathy, a resident of Irumbuliyur, says, “The park gets flooded every time it rains. It takes nearly a week for the stagnant rainwater to recede.”

Residents suggest that provision has to be made for the rainwater from the drains to be discharged either into Nalla Eri in East Tambaram or Peerkankaranai Lake in Perungalathur.

Doing so will improve groundwater levels, they say.

Created under Atal Mission For Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Ministry of Urban Development, the park was open to the public this year.

Residents of Arul Nagar, Gayathri Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Thilagavathy Nagar and Old Grand Southern Trunk Road, Irumbuliyur, visit the park.

“I come to this park for my morning and evening walks. It is clean and well-maintained. However, after a downpour, the garden and children’s play area get flooded. For a week after a shower, children won’t be able to use the park,” points out V. Giridharan, a visitor.

Incidentally, there are no parks either in Peerkankaranai or Perungalathur, both located near Irumbuliyur.

Residents have to go to Gandhi Park or Muthurangam Park, located in East and West Tambaram respectively.

Residents have also sought that the area earmarked for a shuttle court be upgraded and a dysfunctional fountain be repaired. that is in a dysfunctional state.

A Municipality official, who recently assumed his responsibility, says he has received the petition and has promised to do the needful.