Chennai: Unless someone meant this as an April Fool joke, it does appear that an Egmore park is now out of bounds for students and lovers. Mysteriously, no one seems to be aware who put up this notice.
An investigation into the springing up of this severe moral policing act by Deccan Chronicle revealed that neither the cops nor the corporation officials were privy to the action of putting up such a notice at the Mayor Sundar Rao Park on Rukmani Lakshmipathi Salai, Egmore.
The notice reads - “Students and Lovers Not Allowed Inside The park (sic…)”. P. Perumal, DCP (Triplicane) told DC, “We have been getting calls related to such a notice being in place. We were also told that it also bears the Chennai Police logo on top. We dispatched our local Egmore Inspector who returned stating that such a notice was present, but which was not put up by the police”. Asked whether using the ‘Police Seal’ without the consent from the appropriate authority would amount to an offence, the official maintained that the matter will be looked into.
“Corporation officials too are feigning ignorance about who put the notice,” said another senior police official. Students who are used to frequenting parks wonder as to how a sweeping generalisation of park goers could be attempted like this lumping them and lovers. “My girlfriend and I used to relax in this park as and when we are passing by this road. This is one among a few which has retained its green cover despite Vardah wreaking havoc to the city’s green cover. The green gives me a sense of relief. All we do is sit here and soak in the green cover,” said a city college student on requested of anonymity.
The park is located on the banks of the Cooum River and in close proximity to Ethiraj College for Women. It opens at 5.30 am and is open through the day until 9 pm, offering a retreat for passersby.
