CHENNAI: Aravind M was confused. He had just returned from his halfyearly exam holidays to his athletic fitness class in Gopalapuram playground only to find tree debris piled on the otherwise deserted place, barring a few people who came to the gym.
For logistic convenience after the cyclone last month, 78 local dumpyards were demarcated for by the city Corporation where the debris has been lying for almost a month. “I didn’t know there was debris dumped here. I called a friend and learned that our coach has stopped fitness classes for a while because of this,” said 16-year-old Aravind.
With tree debris in parts of many playgrounds yet to be cleared, youngsters said they had to take their games elsewhere. Clearing work is also being undertaken on the Trustpuram ground, in Shenoy Nagar Park and Panagal Park.
“We used to play cricket on the Gopalapuram ground. Now there’s only a small part cleared for us to play and the balls we hit get lost in the tree waste. So, we’ve stopped playing for the last fortnight or so,” said Sathish S, a resident of Royapettah who said he otherwise played cricket there almost every weekend.
His friend Ashok Kumar added that sometimes children run barefoot during their games, which was dangerous now that there were small twigs that could break skin.
The Greater Chennai Corporation last week, auctioned the tree waste for `50 lakh to industries on the condition that the industries take it upon themselves to clear the waste from the local dumpyards.
Walkers said there were a lot of waste left on many grounds, making it impossible for them to pursue their morning walks. “The Somasundaram ground looked like it would burst at its seams. Even the gates couldn’t be opened when I went there on Saturday. I haven’t gone there ever since,” said Ramakrishnan S, a resident of T Nagar.
Though cleaning has commenced in many areas, some residents said that it was still uncertain as to when they can return to their routine. “I haven’t walked since the cyclone. I have to walk on the roads now, which is very difficult,” said P Karunakaram, who said he walked on the Gopalapuram playground twice a day for the past year.