Cityscapes and Landscapes

 

An eco-friendly environment will always create positive vibes. The news report which appeared in the Guardian Weekly (November 1)  underlines the importance of creating green spaces inside the crowded cityscapes. One of the findings in the review published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is that green spaces within the cityscapes will improve public health, lower the rates of heat-related illness and deaths and will also lead to better mental well-being. This news article be read along with the United Nations celebrating the World Cities Day on 31^st October every year. The theme for 2024 is  ‘Youth Leading Climate and Local Action for Cities’. The official website describes the importance of observing the Day, which is promote international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities addressing challenges of urbanization and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world. 

 

It was a coincidence that we visited the Kalaignar Centenary Park on October 31, 2024. It is situated in the Gopalapuram neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India. The park has been established on a 6.09-acre land. Kalaignar Centenary Park (KCP) is managed by the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops. It is one of the largest green spaces inside Chennai city. It houses a 10,000-sq.ft glass garden, a horticultural museum, a 500-m zip-line, a musical fountain show, and an aviary. 

It is a commendable effort by the Government of Tamil Nadu to create this green space in the heart of the city. We felt that maintaining the park will be a big challenge. We could see one of the glass windows of the Glass House was already damaged. Some of the plants have withered away and the birds in the aviary were sick and lifeless. We expected more greenery inside the aviary. The fact that we had to remove shoes to enter the aviary was another unpleasant experience. Inside the aviary we had to walk barefooted over the bird droppings and come back wear our shoes and slippers again. The staff didn't exhibit any professional traits. We paid for the entry ticket (100 INR), Aviary Ticket (150 INR), Glass House (50 INR) and 100 INR for the still camera. The total amount for two adults was 700 INR. 

The park has the potential to be one of the best in India provided there is an enthusiastic team to take care of the nook and corner of the 6 acres of land.