The Hindu              28.10.2013

Proposals to develop parks remain on paper

Sometime ago the Coimbatore Corporation issued orders to corporate houses, non-government organisations and a few others for the development of 19 reserve sites as parks and 12 traffic islands.

The orders, as on October 22, remain on paper as nothing much has happened since the civic body issued the orders, said sources in the civic body.

The Corporation’s novel initiative to rope in players in the private sector to maintain parks started sometime ago.

The meeting saw enthusiastic participation from the representatives of business houses, non-government organisations, residents’ welfare associations and others.

This led the Coimbatore Corporation to conduct another meeting in August this year with the participation of a large number of people in the presence of the then Collector M. Karunagaran.

Mr. Karunagaran and Corporation Commissioner G. Latha asked those interested in developing reserve sites and traffic islands to come up with a detailed proposal saying what they intended to do.

On its part the Corporation had prepared two park designs for the interested parties to either adopt or emulate, the Commissioner said and added that the Corporation would provide certain basic amenities.

After the meeting, the Corporation issued orders for the development of 19 reserve sites and 12 traffic islands with certain conditions (for a list of parks see graphic).

The sources said that the promise by corporate houses, non-government organisations and others seemed to be only public posturing for nothing has happened on the ground. The reserve site remained underdeveloped.

This lukewarm response had come at a time when the Corporation was desperately trying to survey reserve sites, take possession and place boards and publish the details thereof on its website to prevent encroachment and also public from being duped into buying those lands.

The Corporation had so far surveyed reserve sites in 22 wards and published the same on its website, on the home page.

The sources added that response had now cast doubts over the Corporation’s move to invite more private players to develop more reserve sites.

Ms. Latha said that it was a novel initiative that needed regular follow-up.

She had planned to invite those who had received the orders for development of parks to give a deadline and stick to the same.

The civic body would take a similar action to develop traffic islands, she added.