Chennai: The Miyawaki forest in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (ward 68) has become more of a safety hazard than a green lung, with litter, alcohol bottles and poor illumination. It has also turned into a breeding ground for snakes that slither into nearby homes. Residents say the site has been neglected for more than two years and suspect illegal activities once dark. It resembles a dumpyard with plastic waste, broken pipes, two-wheelers, pushcarts, bricks, ice boxes inside the forest, which has been locked shut, they add.An auto driver from the locality, S Sekar, said, “It resembles a dark vacant lot in the evenings. Many people have complained, but I have never seen any official visit the site.” A resident of a nearby apartment with 120 houses, Brinda K, said snakes are often seen moving near the children’s play area and car parking area. “We don’t know if it is one snake or several snakes moving around the area near the Miyawaki forest. The residents’ welfare association ensures that the grass inside the play area is cut regularly, but it’s still scary,” she said.”We have spotted snakes near the car parks too. We are scared to send our children out to play. Our house help are scared to dump garbage in the bins,” she said, adding that the civic body must address their concerns.Regional deputy commissioner (central) H R Kaushik said the issue would be addressed immediately. “I will discuss with the district forest officials and plan maintenance of the site. Snake-catching operations will be carried out with the forest department’s help, and a management plan will be drawn up,” he said.Launched with fanfare in 2020 as a much-needed green relief for the city, the project has instead paid the price for poor upkeep, with crores spent on now barren, neglected land. “Miyawaki forests are largely misused. They are used as a green carpet under which everything is dumped,” said T D Babu, trustee of Nizhal and a member of the District Green Committee. The project has been discontinued by Greater Chennai Corporation, and the existing forests continue to face issues. “Roadside planting, dense forests would be more beneficial,” said climate activist and member of Chennai Wetland Action Collective, K Raju. “Urban forests must be developed only after consulting the community so that they do not fall into neglect,” he added.
