Mylapore Residents Protest Loss of Green Cover at Nageswara Rao Park

On July 3, hobby groups and regular users of Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore submitted a formal representation to Mylapore MLA P. Venkataramanan, protesting the ongoing makeover of the park. The visitors urged the MLA to restore the park's lost green cover, stop further tree cutting and concrete work, and reopen the space, which has seen its walking pathways significantly shrunk and popular meetup spots disrupted.

The representation, in the form of a letter signed by park users, was handed over to the MLA's personal assistant, Guna.

The park is a popular hub for various community groups, including the Park Singers, aerobics, yoga, walking, and public speaking groups. These regulars are mourning the drastic loss of green cover, stating that their favorite meeting spots have become unrecognizable due to the redevelopment work.

Ram Surender, a professional singer who leads the Park Singers group, expressed deep disappointment over the shrunk pathways. He noted that walking on the wide, tree-lined pathway was a major attraction, but the park now looks denuded.

According to Ram, former MLA Dha Velu had previously met with park regulars twice before the redevelopment began, promising that the green space's old-world charm would be retained.

After the new MLA P. Venkataramanan took charge and visited the park, residents raised their concerns. However, the MLA informed them that the redevelopment plan could not be changed as it had already been approved by the previous government.

Ram also recalled that after losing significant green cover during Cyclone Vardha, park users had planted new saplings, which have now been cut down. He urged the MLA to ensure no more trees are cut and that the concreting of the ground is stopped while work continues.

T. Narayanaswamy of the Thiru Vi Ka Speakers’ Forum, which conducts public speaking classes at the park, met with the site engineer on July 3. He expressed hope that the park would regain its greenery, noting that a number of saplings had been brought to the site that day. The group also plans to plant saplings themselves to help restore the area.