Coimbatore: Residents of Rathinapuri have upped their ante against the city corporation’s plan to construct an overhead tank on the premises of a park on Nehru Street in ward 31. They say the move would shrink the space in the park for people to carry out leisure activities. However, the corporation claims that only a few meters of the park that spreads over one acre would be utilized for the project.
The corporation is planning to start the construction work in the park shortly. It has already earmarked space for the tank and cordoned it off. The construction will be carried out by Suez for the corporation’s round-the-clock drinking water project.
G Bakthavachalam, a resident of Nehru Street, said the park is the only leisure spot available for people in the surrounding areas. “Reducing the space of the park will bring down its use. Residents will not be able to spend quality time with their children and friends. The corporation should find an alternative place for the tank,” he said.
“A few trees will also be axed for the project. The green cover is already poor in the area,” he added.
R Prabhakaran, an AIADMK councillor, said there is a court order which prevents the construction of such infrastructure in parks. “If the corporation builds the tank inside the park, it would be tantamount to violation of the court order. I have raised the issue with corporation officials and have written to the chief minister’s cell as well. I hope the corporation will drop the plan and build the tank in another suitable place.” When contacted, an official from the engineering wing of the corporation said, “The tank will be built at a corner of the park. The rest of the park will be preserved as it is,” he said.
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