Kumari Palany & Co

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The perspective of Distribution of public parks uneven across Chennai!

Posted on: 22/Jan/2021 12:08:58 PM
A close look at the division-wise map of parks in Chennai Corporation limits will reveal that the distribution of these public spaces across the city is lopsided. While some divisions do not have any parks at all, one area has as many as 38 parks in the same division.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has 200 divisions in all, and a total of 702 parks, including roadside and Open Space Reservation (OSR) parks. Of these, the northern region that comprises Thiruvotriyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Tondiarpet and Royapuram zones have 143 parks, the central region comprising Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam has 234 parks, and the southern region having Vaasarawakam, Alandur, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones have the maximum parks (325).

A resident of Chennai Purasaawalkam shared in this regard, The lack of an adequate number of parks is one thing, but several smaller parks on this side of the city are not maintained properly at all. They are full of overgrown bushes and waste lying around.

He shared further, Acquiring land for large-scale parks in these areas may be a difficult task but small roadside parks and renovation of existing ones should at least be done effectively.

About 25 of the 200 divisions, including Cherian Nagar in Tondiarpet and SVM Nagar in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, do not have parks. However, divisions 143 (Nolambur), 197 (Karapakkam) and 156 (Mugalivakkam) have as many as 38, 25 and 22 parks, respectively. Our residents association is strong.

In this regard, Raghuraman T, a resident of Nanganallur, shared, We need not wait for corporation officials. If we feel there arent sufficient parks, we have to place requests with the corporation along with details on the available land.

The division has 17 parks. Express had earlier reported that the Corporation data between 2013 and 2018 revealed that Thiruvotriyur and Manali, both in the northern region, are the only zones to not have received any funding towards the renovation of parks in those five years.

In response to this aspect, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said that setting up a park in a particular locality depends on two main factors - requests from residents, and the availability of OSR lands. A senior official shared, If there are OSR lands available, we set up parks in the area and hand them back to the apartment residents.

Divisions with most parks
Nolambur: 38, Karapakkam: 25, Mugalivakkam: 22, Nanganallur: 17, Koyambedu: 15