Talking to DT Next, Kumar (name changed) a long-time resident and sportsperson said that the ground had risked becoming a dumpsite. “A part of the wall was broken and some materials from the nearby Smart City project was being dumped at the site. The ground matters a lot to the community, as it caters to a cross section of sportspersons. We have had cricket teams practising in the ground regularly and it is the pride of the locality,” he said.

Kumar added that the ground has been preserved over a period by the residents themselves. “They had ensured that unlike other places, the ground didn’t make way for anti-social elements taking over the place.” He said, “However, it came as a surprise when we saw the ground being dumped with the debris from the Smart City project in T Nagar.” The residents also said that a police complaint was lodged regarding the issue and the dumping of debris was stopped.

When enquired, a source from the Greater Chennai Corporation said that there were problems initially and they were sorted immediately. “Now, there is no issue with either accessing space or availability of space on the ground. All the problems raised by the users and residents have been sorted out, and if any complaints persist, they can be answered by the zone officials,” added the source.

However, a senior official from Zone 10- Kodambakkam of Greater Chennai Corporation denied receiving any such complaints. He claimed, “The park is cleaned periodically, and every day, several people access facilities on the ground. It is one of the most popular playgrounds in the city. There has been no such issue faced by the residents. These issues are fabricated ones.”