The Hindu 11.02.2016
Demolition of historic park triggers fury in Chennai
Corporation plans to free up space for increasing width of stretches
On Monday night, angry residents gathered at Selvapathi
Chettiyar Park on Strahans Road in Pattalam in north Chennai to protest
the demolition of the park.
The action, which was
being carried out under the supervision of Greater Chennai Corporation
officials, was aimed at freeing up space for road-widening work.
However,
with the protest gaining in intensity, Corporation workers had to beat a
hasty retreat, suspending the demotion work. The protest continued
throughout Tuesday, with several political parties joining in.
The
park is considered special for its clock tower which had been built in
memory of the pioneering labour union leader Selvapathy Chettiar.
The attempt to demolish the park is set against the backdrop of Greater Chennai Corporation’s
move to widen roads by denotifying open spaces, including parks and playgrounds, wherever necessary.
The
State government had given its nod for de-notification of parks for
widening 11 bus route roads, following a council resolution on November
20, 2014.
The demolition of the walls of the 2420 sq m
park on Strahans Road was carried out on Monday night following a
council resolution on January 27, 2016.
According to
that Corporation council resolution, a private developer had been asked
to develop another park in another land measuring 2701 sq m so that this
park could be demolished.
The developer had planned a
large township in a large parcel of land previously owned by a leading
textile and engineering major in north Chennai.
The
developer has already demolished some buildings without any sanction or
approval of the Corporation. Due to this illegality and non-compliance
with demolition norms, a case has been filed with the National Green
Tribunal, according to the Corporation council resolution.
“The
road has actually been planned to help a private agency develop a bus
route for a new township. Residents have not permitted demolition of the
clock tower which was built in memory of Selvapathy Chettiar, one of
the two founders of the Madras Labour Union at Binny Mills,” said A.
Vijayakumar, North Chennai, District Committee Member of CPI(M).
“Very
sad. It is a great symbol of our labour struggle. He is the founding
father of labour union in the whole country. It should not be demolished
under any circumstances,” said historian V. Sriram.
The clock tower was inaugurated on August 4, 1948 and restored in 2004.