The Hindu       07.08.2014 

Report tabled on removal of concrete

The Chennai Corporation has left pavement tiles, removed as part of measures for doing away with concrete around trees, on the platforms itself.

R. Nagendran, expert member of National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Bench, made the observation on Wednesday during the hearing of a case filed by P. Edwin Wilson, of Purasawalkam, on the removal of concrete around trees on the city roads.

In June, the NGT’s vacation bench, comprising judicial member P. Jyothimani and expert member G.K. Pandey, directed the Corporation to remove concrete laid around trees along the roads, within a week.

The order was aimed at allowing better percolation of water and growth of trees. The petitioner stated that it had become a common sight to see trees along the road being choked by tar or cement laid around them.

Concretising the base would also weaken avenue trees, posing a threat to the safety of road users, he said.

On Wednesday, the Corporation’s counsel submitted an ‘action taken’ report to the bench comprising judicial member M. Chockalingam and expert member R. Nagendran.

The civic body said it had instructed all its zonal officers to remove concrete and bitumen laid within one meter of trees.

The report stated that cement concrete covering tree trunks was removed from trees on over six roads, including Balfour Road, Luz Avenue and Kilpauk Garden Road. The space was then filled with gravel and sand to allow percolation of water.

“Action is being taken to remove all signboards, advertisement boards and wires on trees,” the report stated. The Corporation is also conducting a study on the health of avenue trees and public trees by engaging an expert agency that will submit a report to the NGT.

The counsel for the petitioner pointed out that concrete was still present beneath the gravel. The case has been adjourned to September 23.

Report states action is being taken to remove boards and wires, too

The Hindu             10.02.2014

Tambaram’s Gandhi Park set for green makeover

One of the oldest landmarks in Tambaram municipal limits, the sprawling Gandhi Park in East Tambaram, is set for a new look soon.

Walkers’ pathway and cascades apart, the park will get its central library back.

After being left neglected, despite a facelift some years ago, the park is now closed for renovation work. A senior official from the municipal administration and water supply department told The Hindu a tender has been floated to the tune of Rs. 23 lakh to complete the renovation.

Already, a nine-feet-wide walkers’ path, with lights, is ready. A sum of Rs. 50 lakh has been spent on various kinds of infrastructural work inside the park.

The new work schedule includes planting of ornamental plants and installation of a couple of cascades. The park will be ready for public use in a couple of months, said the official.

A library building, in the central portion of the park, has been built at a cost of Rs. 26 lakh. “The earlier library was inaugurated by Lourdammal Simon, the then local administration minister, in 1957. The new facility will provide users with more space and lot of study materials,” said V. Nagarajan, a senior citizen from Kambar Street, East Tambaram.

The single-storey building will be able to accommodate more than 50 readers at a time and will have 30,000 books and magazines.

Over the past year or so, the local body has attached a lot of importance to development of parks that have been neglected for many years, the official said. Improvement works are going on in a few parks and more such open spaces will be developed, he said.

Besides carrying out improvement work, the municipal administration should ensure the park is maintained properly, residents said. The timings should be regulated.

The park should be open only for a few hours in the morning and evening and should be kept locked the rest of the day, they said.