The Hindu 03.09.2010
Corporation opens a number of parks
Special Correspondent
GREEN ZONE:A new park of the Coimbatore Corporation at Thavasi Nagar at Ward 60 in the city. Over the last two days, the Corporation opened about 30 parks. —
Coimbatore: Over the last two days (Wednesday and Thursday), the Coimbatore Corporation opened nearly 30 parks across the city. These were among the 40 created over a total space of 18 acres in various wards of the Corporation in the run-up to the World Classical Tamil Conference that was held in the city from June 23 to 27.
The Corporation already has 46 parks created on reserved sites.
Forty more public purpose sites marked for parks have been turned into green spaces.
The Corporation says that more parks will be established on such sites allocated for this purpose.
The parks opened on Wednesday and Thursday have been established at more than Rs. 3.5 crore.
The Corporation clarified at a Council meeting sometime ago that the opening of the parks was delayed because of some small works that were to be completed. This was in response to charges by some councillors that the civic body was waiting for a prominent person to open the parks.
Officials said the parks could be opened with the councillors of the respective wards soon after the works were completed.
The parks were opened by Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy on Wednesday, in the presence of Mayor R. Venkatachalam, Commissioner Anshul Mishra and Deputy Mayor N. Karthik.
Apart from enough greenery, the parks have been provided with a walkers' path. The Coimbatore Corporation has also formed a Horticulture Wing to oversee the maintenance of the parks, apart from the roadside parks and traffic islands.
While the physical maintenance of the green spaces is to be outsourced, the wing will plan landscapes and lend expertise in designing.
