The Hindu 03.11.2010
Need to remove encroachments before establishing eco-park in Tirunelveli
P. Sudhakar
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Sewage flowing into the water body should also be stopped, demand |
High expectations among people on 64-acre facility
Desilting will facilitate boating in the lake
TIRUNELVELI: While welcoming the Corporation’s plan to establish an
ecological park at Ilanthaikulam in Palayamkottai with a range of fun
rides, the public here want the urban local body to clear the
encroachments around the water body and take permanent measures to check
the domestic sewage flowing into it everyday before commencing the
work.
As the residents of Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai are left with no
picnic spot or amiable places to spend their evenings or weekends
leisurely, the proposal to establish an ecological park on the 64-acre
Ilanthaikulam triggered expectations among the public. The proposed
picnic spot with striking illumination is likely to have a range of joy
rides, walkers’ path, boating, cycling track, drinking water, toilets
etc. as per the conditions laid down by TNUIFSL (Tamil Nadu Urban
Infrastructure Financial Services Limited), the funding agency, to the
consultant, Chennai-based M/s Darashaw and Company Private Limited.
However, the residents here are wondering how the consultant is going
to start the feasibility study even as the corporation has not
initiated steps to clear encroachments on the banks of Ilanthaikulam, to
deepen it and permanently check the sewage flowing into it.
“Sewage flowing into the water body from the houses around the place
should be diverted to the underground drainage system. Moreover,
desilting of Ilanthaikulam will deepen it further to make it suitable
for boating and clear the silt deposited for several feet over the
years,” said S. Jayaraj, a resident living close to Ilanthaikulam.
Most of the residents near Ilanthaikulam also reflect the same opinion.
Waste of money
“The government is all set to give Rs. 33.41 lakh to the consultant
and over Rs. 1 crore is going to be spent for establishing the park
here. So, the corporation should work to make Ilanthaikulam a suitable
spot for the recreational area. Otherwise it will be only a waste of
public money,” said a professor with St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai
behind which the water body is located. When contacted, the corporation
officials said that the corporation was in no mood to clear the
encroachments. And no mechanism has been evolved either to desilt or to
check the flow of sewage.