Two years ago, an open space on Sringeri Mutt Road just outside the Mandaveli MRTS station resembled a dump yard with wastes of all kinds — construction debris, garbage and abandoned vehicles eating up space. Today, the stretch sports a green look, thanks to the collective and sustained efforts of a few resident associations of Mylapore. The mission to reclaim this abused space started in April 2016, when residents raised the issue at a meeting of the Mylapore chapter of Arappor Iyakkam. The residents took it up with the Southern Railway, Greater Chennai Corporation and the Public Works Department and ensured the garbage was removed and the stretch cleaned, says C.R. Balaji, a civic activist from Mandaveli. However, the free space had turned into a parking lot and a public urinal, prompting residents’ associations such as TAKSRA, JERA and MRWA into taking action again. With their relentless campaigns and petitions, the place was secured with a fence. The associations’ efforts did not stop there and today, the stretch has a small garden and the paintings on the broken wall speaks to the passersby about caring for the environment. The garden was created and trees planted with the help of Nizhal, a voluntary organisation in the city. Not only that, they set up compost pits on the stretch with the help of the Corporation. “The compost pits were created to encourage residents to segregate waste at source and to put an end to dumping of construction waste at the spot. Wilted flowers from temples are composted in these pits,” says K.L. Bala of TAKSRA. TAKSRA has taken the responsibility to water the plants in the garden every week. However, much more needs to be done here, says Ravi Nandyala one of the founder members of JERA. “It is unfortunate that this space is still being used as a public urinal by commuters who exit the MRTS station,” he says. “We wanted the area to be converted into a park and offered to oversee its maintenance. We had also found a sponsor to build the park and submitted a proposal to the Railways with a detailed plan of action, but the plan has been caught up in red tape,” adds Nandyala. Call for security The residents’ associations and activists have beautified this space after taking a great deal of pain. They are now calling upon the Corporation and the Southern Railway to protect the area from being abused further. “These agencies have the authority to enforce discipline. Despite our repeated pleas for a guard to be appointed to monitor the stretch, no action has been taken so far,” says Nandyala.

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