CHENNAI: Those wanting to take a leisurely morning walk have several options in the city: they may prefer the sprawling Sivan Park at K.K. Nagar, the scenic May Day Park in Chintadripet, or soon, even some burial grounds nearby.
To curb anti-social activities and irregularities continually taking place in the burial grounds, the corporation has decided to introduce landscape, greenery and footpaths on their premises. Officials say that the aim is to convert all burial grounds and make them look similar to parks where people can spend their leisure time, thus making these places lively and useful.
Corporation officials on Wednesday inspected the Velankadu burial ground at Anna Nagar to commence the project. The Velankadu burial ground has been handed over to a private party for its maintenance and to put an end to irregularities taking place there.
“We handed over the burial ground for maintenance to a private firm to curb the corruption happening at the basic level,” said a corporation official. “The allegations are that corporation staff take money to carry out the rituals in the burial grounds. This can be prevented by this measure,” he added.
“Our target would be to make burial grounds useful. Addressing maintenance issues and making these undisturbed open spaces in the city a presentable spot, will make them happening hubs and they will become active, unlike now, where most of the burial grounds remain dark spots,” said Mr K. Amudhu Surabi, the architect who aids in redesigning burial grounds.
