Coimbatore: A section of Race Course residents are disappointed with the city corporation for demolishing Thomas Park to facilitate a badminton or volleyball court in the locality. Despite its small size, the park has been a landmark since the 1890s. While destroying the greenery is one grouse, residents are also upset over the lack of information regarding the amenities coming up in their area.
The residents said the civic body had begun the work to raze down the park more than a fortnight ago. “We initially thought they were planning to renovate the park. It never crossed our mind that the city corporation would remove the green cover completely, said Shantha Sundar, a resident.
He said the civic body had started construction of a big structure next to the park. “We are in the dark about what the structure will house – an amphitheatre or a sports court?”
Another resident, Ram Mohan, said any such facility in the area would narrow down the road further. “If it’s a sports court or amphitheatre, people from across the city will use the facility and there needs to be a parking lot. Why can’t they beautify the large vacant space that earlier housed a dilapidated government housing unit and create a Miyawaki forest and these amenities there?”
Gradual reduction in the greenery in the area is also a bone of contention. “There is a rule that development projects should not affect the green cover. But the civic body has removed the entire park and uprooted many trees. Now, there is no shade. They are concretizing the area fully by just leaving some space for the water to percolate down. They can do what they want without taking our opinion, but why can’t they inform us about what is happening in our neighbourhood?” asked Ananya Mukund, another resident.
Corporation commissioner Kumaravel Pandian promised to look into their grievances. Rajkumar, chief executive officer, smart city, met a few residents in the area on Wednesday and promised to discuss further plans and amenities for the area with them.