Four new parks to be built by Greater Chennai Corporation
Posted on: 19/Dec/2018 10:16:05 AM
Recently Amrut Reform Incentive Fund of Rs 3 crores was received by the GCC or Greater Chennai Corporation from the Union Ministry of Urban Development. The news that is gathered now is by using the funds got from the above mentioned, GCC would construct 4 new parks in the Chennai city. It is revealed that 2 parks would be built in Ambattur zone and one each in Valasaravakkam zone and Adyar zone.
These 4 parks would be making their presence felt on OSR land in Udaya Nagar Main Road in Valasaravakkam, railway quarters in Ambattur and TNHB Colony in Adyar and Ambattur. Civic body would be playing its role in developing these parks in these places. As an incentive to achieve reforms, the Amrut funds were handed over by the union ministry for urban development. For bringing in reforms in services, the incentive funds were released and this was according to the sources in the civic body. An official later spoke about how online printing of birth certificates, computerized sanctioning for building plan approvals, property tax assessment and payment were some of the reforms assessed and allocated incentive funds to Tamil Nadu.
The idea to build parks was welcomed by the residents of Ambattur as their place has got just few parks now. A resident of Ambattur spoke about how there are 2 open space reservation lands in West and East Balaji Nagar and how the GCC has not developed parks despite the availability of the funds. There were also few complaints from Perungudi residents regarding the maintenance of the existing parks and few were of the opinion that these existing parks must be maintained well before the addition of new parks. It is now said that the GCC is exploring opportunities to hand over parks to the neighbouring communities for their maintenance. The activists were happy about the new parks that would be built soon. They were of the view that upkeep or maintenance must be considered before building new parks.
According to Shobha Menon of Nizhal, it was imperative to factor in the cost of sustained maintenance of the area atleast for 3 years. Involving of local RWAs in planning, planting and upkeep is important. This would make sure that the local residents would be involved in the maintenance of the park by the end of 3 year tenure. Finally Shobha Menon hinted that without the involvement of community and upkeep, even the new parks would deteriorate just similar to many old parks.
