Govt to improve parks, play fields in the city

Chennai, June 26 : The Tamil Nadu government has drawn out plans to create ''lung spaces'' in the crowded urban areas, by improving parks and playfields to provide recreation for common public, senior citizens and children.

State Minister for Information and Publicity Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, in a statement here said the government plans to improve 50 parks and playfields, which will serve as ''lung spaces'' in the crowded urban areas.

The scheme would be implemented in selective towns with the coordination of local bodies. Each park would be improved with a grant of Rs 2.5 lakh and totally a sum of Rs 1.25 crore would be provided for the improvement and beautification of 50 parks during 2006-07.

The minister also announced traffic improvement projects in ten towns of the state. The towns identified for the projects were Krishnagiri, Mannargudi, Perambalur, Dharapuram, Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thirumangalam, Melur, Kovilpatti and Theni.

The traffic improvement projects would be extended to another ten more towns during the year 2006-07 and each local body would be provided with a maximum grant of Rs 25 lakh with their contribution of 25 per cent of the project cost, he said.

UNI