Residents protest plastic baling unit set up on playground at S.S. Puram in Otteri

Residents in Otteri, Chennai protest plastic baling facility on playground, demand modern sports facilities for children's safety and development.

Residents have protested against a plastic baling facility set up on a playground at a congested residential neighbourhood in Otteri in north Chennai.

After a garbage truck ran over a child in the area several years ago, the residents have been demanding that the playground on the site be modernised, pointing to the need for sports facilities for the children. This demand, however, is yet to be fulfilled.

Senior Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) officials inspected the playground this week after residents protested against fresh construction activity at the spot, sparking speculation that the GCC had shelved the playground modernisation project, which was proposed by Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar MLA Thayagam Kavi under the local area development scheme several years ago.

Following demand from the residents, Mr. Thayagam Kavi on Wednesday held a meeting with GCC officials, exploring the feasibility of constructing modern sports facilities on the playground at S.S. Puram in Otteri. GCC Central Regional Deputy Commissioner K.J. Praveen Kumar visited the locality this week, heard the grievances of residents, and ordered officials to study the feasibility of shifting the plastic baling centre and modernising the playground.

S. Surya, a Class X student, whose sister was run over by a garbage truck several years ago, said the GCC should close the plastic baling facility to reduce the risk to children using the playground.

“Many garbage trucks are seen passing through our neighbourhood and the ground where the plastics are processed. Parents are worried about their children’s safety. Many of our neighbours’ children have been trying to excel in sports to get better job opportunities. We want the playground with modern sports facilities to help realise their dreams,” said N. Madhan Kumar, a lawyer and resident, who has been leading the campaign for the modernised playground.

R. Veeramani, a cricket player from the area, said he aspired to compete in the Ranchi Trophy, and the delay in modernising the playground had denied many talented youth from the area the opportunity to excel in sports. A. Satish, a football player, said he had started working as a daily wage labourer since he was frustrated with the lack of access to modern sports facilities for the underprivileged students in the area.