He assured that no trees are being cut and rainwater facilities are made in the Race Course area.
Coimbatore: The work to convert the Race Course Road into a Model Road at an estimated cost of Rs 40.67 crores is being undertaken on behalf of the Smart City project in Coimbatore from 2018-2020.
But, there have been various complaints raised by the public on the grounds of infrastructure and cutting down of trees. So, the Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Kumaravel Pandian today released a press statement.
He has said, "In the newspapers dated 17.04.2021 and 19.04.2021, an environmental activist/community activist alleged that the corporation had cut down more than 6 out of 70 trees for the works. An online complaint has been filed regarding the accusation. Another complaint was also made saying that the greenery of the Thomas park was also destroyed.
But in fact, not even a single tree has to be destroyed in the Race Course area and the approval has been given only to cut dense trees and plants on empty plots. Only dense bushes and plants have been removed from the project site. Therefore, this message is meant to spread misinformation to the public. "
Corporation Commissioner Kumaravel Pandian further denied the allegation that the Model Road project mentioned in the complaint was planned without consultation with the public and environmental activists and turned the healthy green Race Course area into a colourful concrete space.
He clarified, "In fact, work on the project is being carried out only after field consultations with representatives of the Race Course Area and its affiliated residents' association and the Race Course Walkers Association and their advice."
Corporation Commissioner also said that the complainant has alleged that the green space has shrunk and rainwater has been prevented from entering the ground with concrete. He said, "The pedestrian roads that were already installed were built using Faver blocks. We have temporarily removed them and fixed granite stones and remodelled them. With the help of Bioswales, a rainwater harvesting system is placed in the Race Course area."
"Along with that a total of 52 underground drainage systems has been created. Apart from this, Eco Block is created to save rainwater in open spaces and to increase the groundwater level. Accusations like increase of traffic and pollution due to narrow roads in the Race Course are baseless," the commissioner has said in the statement.
Adding, he has said, "Corporation has designed streets and model roads in Race Course following all rules and regulations. Speed breakers have been installed on the roads using curb radius design which will help in controlling the speed of vehicles. Accusations on billboards and hoardings across Race Course is completely false as it has not been discussed at all yet. We deny the accusations saying that the Smart City project is a mistake. We know the RaceCourse for being an identity with its trees."
Corporation Commissioner Kumaravel Pandian commented that this complaint is tarnishing the corporation's name.
"There is also a baseless accusation saying that the Thomas Park in Race Course will be demolished to build an amphitheatre, badminton court etc. But as a matter of fact, it is not a park but a Transportation island which was wrongly built many years ago. Since it is built without following any guidelines or follows any right use by the public. Hence it is planned to be removed to be remade into a ground known as Futsal," the statement read.
Corporation Commissioner also assured that no trees were chopped down and the allegation that we should receive permission from the revenue department mandatorily is absolutely non-factual.