The Hindu             01.08.2013

Good response to developing parks in city

The Coimbatore Corporation’s effort to involve corporate
companies, non-government organisations and residents’ associations in
developing and maintaining parks has received a good response.

According to sources in the civic body, the Corporation placed on table 70 reserve sites where it wished to develop parks.

This was at a meeting the Corporation had convened at the Collectorate a couple of weeks ago.

The
Corporation said that those interested could either take the design the
civic body had developed in association with consultants or come up
with designs to their liking but subject to its approval. It also said
that if the organisations or companies expected the Corporation to play a
role, they should specifically state what they expected – compound,
water connection, etc.

The sources said that 35
organisations had come forward and submitted letters expressing their
interest to develop parks. They include Rotary clubs, property
developers’ association, Siruthuli, RAAC and a few others. A few
residents’ associations had also expressed their interests to develop
parks that were not on the Corporation’s list.

The
civic body was happy at the response but was studying their proposals.
To take things forward it had convened a meeting on August 10 at the
Corporation office in Town Hall.

Meanwhile, at the last Council meeting, the Corporation placed a proposal for the Council’s approval in this regard.

The
Council passed the resolution which said that the organisations taking
up park development should not construct buildings or any structures,
the power connection should be in commissioner’s name, the organisations
were allowed to display a board with their name saying that it was they
who were maintaining the park, etc.

The Council also
approved a proposal to let residents’ associations, non-government
organisations or companies to green the medians on roads. It also
presented a list of conditions that was similar to the ones that applied
for parks.

The sources said that the Corporation was
keen on developing as many parks as possible to not only green the city
but also prevent the misuse of reserve sites.