Thoothukudi Corporation initiates action to open eco-park, boat club for Pongal holidays

Thoothukudi Mayor Jegan Periyasamy said at the Corporation Council meeting on Wednesday that the civic body had initiated efforts to open the Eco Park and Boat Club located on Beach Road.

During the meeting, 22 resolutions, including the ones to maintain four major parks — Rajaji Park, MGR Park, Muthunagar Beach Park and Roche Park — through outsourced workers, were passed unanimously.

The Council members raised several demands on issues concerning their wards. They urged the Corporation to establish coaching centres for civil services examinations in the city and to construct a road to Government Thoothukudi Medical College and Hospital through Rajaji Park.

The councillors insisted that roads dug up for Underground Drainage project be restored quickly and emphasised the need to install street lights in several areas.

Mr. Jegan said the UGDS work was pending in a few wards and it would be completed soon. After its completion, the roads would be restored. Many roads had already been relaid in Corporation limits and that the work to relay the remaining roads would commence shortly.

With Pongal approaching, Mr. Jegan said, large crowds were expected at parks and, therefore, renovation and public facility improvement works were under way. Action had been taken to open the Eco Park and the Boat Club located on Beach Road during Pongal holidays, he added.

“A private company has volunteered to operate boats and has been given temporary permission on the condition that 25% of the revenue earned should be shared with the Corporation,” he added.

He further said Thoothukudi teppakulam would be renovated without affecting its heritage structure before February. He also said strict action would be taken against cattle roaming freely on roads, and warned that stray cattle would be handed over to a goshala in Sankarankoil, and would not be returned to the owners.

Corporation Commissioner S. Priyanka and Deputy Mayor S. Jenitta were present.