Set back for Mayor's dream project

Tiruchi: The Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman's dream project of establishing a water theme park here has suffered a setback with the Corporation Council refusing to clear an initial investment of about Rs.2.22 crore for it.An official resolution on the subject, moved at an urgent meeting of the council on Wednesday, was kept in abeyance after a majority of the councillors disapproved the investment for the proposed park at Anna Nagar.Establishing a theme park was one of the prominent poll promises of Mrs. Tondaiman (Congress).

Councillors, cutting across political lines, felt that the Corporation could ill afford to make a huge investment on an entertainment project when it was struggling to provide basic amenities in several places.It would affect the other development works and the Corporation could take up the project through private promoters, they said.The theme park was planned at the Corporation grounds at a total cost of Rs.7 crore, based on a plan drawn up by J. Ramanan, an architect.The project was to be taken up in three phases with the Corporation making the initial investment.

Congress councillor Jerome Arockiaraj argued that the project would be totally unviable as the site available measured hardly 2.15 acres, while 10 to 20 acres was required to establish a water theme park.He suggested that an alternative site be identified on the outskirts to attract tourists.Mrs. Tondaiman said the park could be set up on a small scale with initial investment from the Corporation.Once its viability was established, private promoters could be roped in for developing it further under the Build Operate and Transfer Scheme.The Commissioner B. Balachandran suggested that the Corporation could take a policy decision on establishing the theme park and seeking expert opinion before venturing into the project.Issues relating to public safety, continuous supply of water and maintenance had to be examined, he said.M. Abdullah, Independent councillor from Anna Nagar, the sole member to support the project, staged a walkout in protest against the council's decision to keep the resolution pending.