For many years now, residents of Nawab Habibullah Nagar in Mudichur have been demanding a park in their neighbourhood. Located off Mudichur Road and Manimangalam-Sriperumbudur Road, Nawab Habibullah Nagar is spread across 2 sq.km. Though densely populated, the neighbourhood lacks a public park.
M.R. Sai Sampath Kumar, a social activist and a resident, said, “As per the layout of this locality, nearly 64 cents had been earmarked for a park, under Open Space Reservation (OSR). This was in 1993. However, steps are yet to be taken to develop a park.”
According to residents, repeated representations to the Mudichur village panchayat, Kancheepuram district collectorate, Director of Revenue Administration and the CM’s Cell have not yielded results.
However, as residents kept sending representations, authorities of the block development office, Kancheepuram Collectorate, requested civic officials for grant of funds, but in vain.
Residents demand that if a park is developed on the earmarked space, stormwater drains must also be constructed. “At present, the land meant for creation of a park gets flooded whenever it rains. It takes nearly a week for the stagnant water to recede and the land becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” adds Kumar. One of the officials of the village panchayat cited lack of funds as the reason for non-development of the park.