Adyar Eco Park, inaugurated by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Saturday, has been named after Tholkappiyar, the author of the Tamil grammar treatise Tholkappiyam.
In Tamil it will be called Tholkappiya Poonga. It will be opened for public from February 15.
“Tholkappiyar is the oldest of the elder Tamils. Savants like Thiruvalluvar came only after him and enlightened us. I take pride in naming the park after him,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Karunanidhi, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Ministers and senior officials went around the park. He interacted with the schoolchildren, who had come to receive prizes for various competitions held as part of the inaugural function.
Asked whether the government planned to collect an entry fee from the public, Phanindra Reddy, Member Secretary, Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust, said no decision had been taken so far. “It is still under discussion,” he added.
A documentary on the park before and after the restoration of 58 acres in the first phase was screened for the audience. The government has spent Rs. 23 crore. About 1.37 lakh saplings of around 172 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, reeds and tuberous plants native to this region have been planted to serve as habitat for aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal species.
Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants are the consultants for the project and the restoration is being monitored through educational institutions and Anna University.
Two years of restoration works have resulted in significant improvement in water quality and presence of 27 species of fish and 91 species of birds.
A government press release said phase II of the project covering 300 acres between Santhome Causeway and Thiru Vi Ka bridge would be taken up soon.
Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to inaugurate the park on January 3, he could not attend the function because environment clearance was not obtained at that time.
