Residents, CPI(M) oppose outsourcing maintenance of Pallapatti lake in Salem city

The residents and the CPI(M) have opposed handing over of the maintenance of Pallapatti Lake to a private consultancy, as well as the collection of monthly fee for using the walkway in the park.

The Pallapatti lake, spread over 44 acres, in Salem city was renovated under the Smart Cities Mission. The renovation, taken up at a cost of ₹35 crore in 2019, was delayed due to Covid-19. It was completed in 2023 and the new park was opened to the public.

People in the locality used to take strolls along the walkway, and bring their children to play in the play area free of cost. On July 22, 2024, ₹70 lakh worth of shed and equipment in the children’s play area were destroyed in a fire. In the absence of security guards, anti-social elements damaged the tiles in the park.

CPI (M) Salem urban secretary N. Praveen Kumar, also a resident of Pallapatti, said there is no entertainment in Salem except the parks. The party from the beginning has been demanding the Corporation provide adequate security at the park. After the fire accident, five corporation staff were deployed in the park and within the next three months, the staff strength was reduced to three. Claiming security reasons, the Corporation handed over the maintenance of the park to a private consultancy that has fixed an entry fee of ₹10, a parking fee of ₹20 and ₹300 per month for using the walkway.

If the Corporation needed money to run the park, they can collect minimum charges from the people. If private consultancy could run the park after collecting money, why cannot the Corporation do this? Private players will always aim to make profit. The people visiting the park are mostly daily wagers and those belonging to middle class. Collection of fee to use the walkway is unacceptable. On behalf of the CPI (M), a protest has been planned on February 19, 2026 against the Corporation for outsourcing the park maintenance, Mr. Praveen added.

Salem Corporation officials said the tender was allotted to the private consultancy on February 6. As per the tender, the consultancy is to pay ₹19.56 lakh every year to the Corporation. They will provide amusement, selfie points, toilets, and other facilities in the park. Monthly walking pass is charged ₹100 and not ₹300.