Opposition councillor picks up broom to clean parks

COIMBATORE: Fed up with the corporation officials, who took no steps to maintain parks in Vadavalli, ward 38 councillor C Sharmila has taken matters into her own hands.
The AIADMK councillor mobilized residents and cleaned the park at Curio Nagar on Tuesday.
Though DMK came to power two years ago, nothing was done for maintenance of parks in her ward, Sharmila told TOI. “Residents call me up every day about the poor condition of parks. I have been urging corporation officials to deploy workers to clean them, but nothing happened. They say agencies will be engaged to take care of parks in the city, but there is undue delay.”
The park at Curio Nagar turns into a den for antisocial elements at night, the councillor said. “Several people used to visit the park for morning walks and to spend some time with children in the evenings. They kept away due to lack of maintenance but returned after the park was cleaned.”
Sharmila is now planning to clean other parks in her ward.
Corporation commissioner M Prathap said the civic body has engaged agencies to look after parks. “In Vadavalli, the contractor concerned delayed the work and was served a notice. He has launched work now,” he said.