Hobby groups decry Nageswara Rao Park’s makeover

Various groups known for having meetups at Nageswara Rao Park have made a representation to Mylapore MLA P. Venkataramanan on July 3, urging restoration of the green cover and reopening of the park.

A letter signed by park users and addressed to the MLA was handed over to his personal assistant Guna.

These hobby groups have made this park their meet-up point where they would bond over aerobics, yoga, walking, singing and public speaking. Each of them had a specific meeting point. For example, Park Singers would meet next to the gym and the aerobics group, inside the park. These regulars are mourning the drastic loss of the green cover. They think their favourite spots at the park have become unrecognisable due to the makeover it is undergoing.

Ram Surender, a professional singer who leads the Park Singers group, is disappointed that the pathway has shrunk hugely. “Walking on the wide pathway with trees lining it was the big attraction; now the park looks denuded,” says Ram, a resident of Mylapore.

The previous MLA Dha Velu had met regulars at the park twice before the redevelopment work began and had assured them that the green space’s old world charm would be retained. “We believed him,” he says.

“After the new MLA P. Venkataramanan took charge and visited the park, we had raised our concerns. He told us the plan cannot be changed as it was approved by the previous government,” says a disappointed Ram.

“During Cyclone Vardha, Nageswara Rao Park had suffered extensive loss of green cover and we planted new saplings. Today, they have all been cut,” says Ram. “There is lot more work to be done in the park. So until then we want the MLA to ensure no more trees are cut and the concreting of the ground stopped.”

T. Narayanaswamy, who represents Thiru Vi Ka Speakers’ Forum, a group conducting public speaking classes at the park, says on July 3 they met the engineer who was at the site. He is hopeful the park will regain its greenery. “A number of saplings were brought today and we only hope they will grow fast. We also plan to plant saplings as we did before.”