The Hindu : Tourism Department to beautify two parks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Tourism Department to beautify two parks

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb. 26. The City Corporation Council today decided to hand over the Gandhi Park and the Pattom Thanu Pillai Park to the Department of Tourism for the ambitious Rs. 1.08-crore beautification project.

The official resolution moved by the Mayor, J. Chandra, on the basis of a request from the department was passed by the council.

The CPI(M) councillor, Sasthamangalam Sreekumar, expressed reservations whether the Gandhi Park and the Pattom Thanu Pillai Park will be returned to the corporation by the department after the beautification.

The UDF Parliamentary party leader, K. Maheswaran Nair, supporting the resolution pointed out that the corporation had not been able to protect the parks in the capital compared to other cities in the country. Mr. Nair said the letter from the department had clearly stated the Gandhi Park would be handed over to the corporation for maintenance after the beautification.

The CPI councillor, G.R. Anil, opposed the handing over the Gandhi Park and urged the Mayor to postpone the resolution.

Intervening in the debate, the Works Committee chairman, V.S. Padmakumar, said there was no need for an agreement between the department and the corporation as the park was being handed over only for beautification. He demanded that the corporation pressurise the department for undertaking a project to beautify the adjoining Putharikandam Maidan by planting trees.

The resolution was passed after the Mayor told the council that the department had no staff for carrying out the daily upkeep of the Gandhi Park. Prof. Chandra stated that she would ask the Tourism authorities to immediately chalk out a project to beautify the Putharikandam Maidan.

Another resolution was moved by the Mayor to transfer the plot of land in Kalladimugham in Manacaud village for rehabilitating those who were being displaced due to the land acquisition for the proposed expansion of the international airport.

The CPI councillor, Vazhuthacaud Narendran, said the land should be handed over only after alternative land was provided to the corporation.

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