Chennai: The only playground for the residents of Velachery would no longer be available for sporting activities if the government has its way.
Tension sparked in Velachery as the Chennai district administration on Monday tried to take the position of the 1.15 acres of the playground here, in order to construct a taluk office here.
Despite serious protests, the district administration tried to execute their one-year-old plan of shifting the Velachery taluk office from Taramani to Velachery.
The existing taluk office at Taramani is very small and is on rented premises. Land belonging to the playground is the only source as there is no vacant land in the vicinity, sources said.
The playground at Seva Nagar is part of the 2.3 acre land given by the state government to the then Velachery Residents Welfare Association in 1924. Besides constructing a hospital and a community hall, residents have set up a park and a playground nearby.
The playground is a place to cherish for thousands of youngsters. A football player, C. Saravanan, said, “My father is a tailor and I can never dream of going to private clubs to play football. Dreams of many youngsters like me will vanish along with the playground.”
Velachery MLA Vagai Chandrasekar told Deccan Chronicle, “I have spoken in the Assembly to retain the playground. I have also requested the revenue department officials to re-consider the decision.” M. Ganesh, Velachery Welfare Association, said, “There is no playground within the three kilometre radius. More than 19,000 youngsters use the ground to play football and cricket. We had earlier stopped the officials who tried to start the construction.”
