Chennai: Dim lights, poor toilets and sewage intrusion have turned Paruthipattu Green Park in Avadi into a shadow of its former self. Built at a cost of 28.16 crore, the park—once a vibrant hub tied to the revival of an 87-acre lake—is now plagued by neglect, frustrating the 1,000-plus residents who flock there every day. Opened in 2019 as part of efforts to restore Paruthipattu lake, a historic water source for the Avadi region, the park featured a 3-km walking track, open-air theatre, children’s play area, boating facility, library, parking and a food court. But maintenance faltered. A sewage treatment facility installed nearby lies dysfunctional, allowing untreated waste from residential areas, commercial establishments and stormwater drains to pollute the lake. Foul odour permeates parts of the park. “More than 10 sanitation workers from a private agency used to keep things clean. Now only two are on duty, sweeping just the entrance,” said K Bhaskar, a resident of Avadi. ” The walking track is littered with rubbish that goes uncleared,” he said. Bhaskar, who sees walkers, families, students and seniors filling the space each day, said the park must be open at least till 8 pm. “It now shuts at 6.30pm. We also need more benches and working streetlights,” he said.
A lawyer from the area, S. Anbazhagan added police partrolling after six to the list. “Tipplers take over the park after dark. We’ve complained to the Avadi Corporation and police. Nothing happened. Police must patrol after 6pm,” he said. Dim lights and broken toilets compound the chaos, deterring families and leaving the once-promising space vulnerable to illegal activities. Responding to the complaints, an Avadi corporation officials said steps would be taken to deploy additional sanitation and security staff. Measures to prevent stray dog entry and a review of park timings would also be considered, they said.
