HC directs government to maintain Green Park on 11 acres at Panjapur

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State government to maintain a portion of the Green Park at Panjapur, where the Corporation is building an integrated vegetable and fruits market, as a public park with necessary facilities.

The Tiruchi Corporation had decided to establish the market complex at the park at a cost of ₹236 crore and the construction works were inaugurated recently. However, environment activists in the city had opposed the cutting down of the trees for the construction of the market complex and called for the preservation of the Green Park.

A resident of Edamalaipattipudur, K. Chandrasekar had filed a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court against the cutting of 1,432 trees which were planted at the park about 10 years ago and converting the Green Park as wholesale market. He had sought the restoration of the Green Park with all necessary facilities.

The State government, represented by the Additional Advocate General, had submitted that the Tiruchi Corporation had originally earmarked 22.10 acres for establishing the Green Park. On account of heavy traffic congestion and inadequate space at the Gandhi Market, an administrative decision was taken “to shift the market to the area measuring about 11.68 acres out of the 22.10 acres in Panjapur village.”

There was no proposal to take over the entire Green Park. Only 11.68 acres of land was earmarked for developing the wholesale market. Hundred trees have already been removed from five acres and the same were replanted suitably in nearby places and another 197 trees were yet to be removed. The remaining 11 acres of land would be retained as park and there was no proposal to shift it.

The proposed market is located on a vantage point, where the Tiruchi Ring Road connects the Chennai Bypass Road, thereby making it easy and accessible for transporters. Since it was located on the highways, it will reduce traffic congestion, it was submitted.

Passing orders on the petitions of Mr. Chandrasekar recently, a High Court Bench comprising Justice S. M. Subramaniam and Justice A. D. Maria Clete held that in view of the submissions of the Additional Advocate General, no further consideration was required in respect of the grounds raised by the petitioner. However, the court directed the respondents – Secretaries of the departments of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, and Finance, the Tiruchi District Collector and the Tiruchi Corporation – to maintain the Green Park as per their contentions in the remaining extent of 11 acres of land.

“Since the money collected from the public is utilised for developing the Green Park, it is the bounden duty of the Tiruchirapalli Corporation as well as the competent authorities of the government to ensure that the park is maintained with all necessary facilities for the benefit of the people of that locality and to protect the environmental aspects in that locality,” the court said.

The court rejected the contention of the Additional Advocate General that the proposal to establish the wholesale market was originally submitted since ant-social activities were going in the Green Park. It is the duty of the government to prevent anti-social activities in the public areas. The Green Park must be protected in all respects and the district administration is directed to ensure adequate protection to the people visiting the park. “It is needless to state that the park must be opened as expeditiously as possible for the benefit of the people of that locality,” the court said.