Over poor maintenance, GCC to cancel adoption of vertical gardens

CHENNAI: As several vertical gardens created by the Chennai Corporation across the city are withering owing to lack of proper maintenance, the civic body has decided to cancel vertical garden adoption initiative to self maintain the gardens.

A Chennai Corporation official said that vertical gardens have been handed over to private firms for maintenance under adoption scheme. "However, gardens that are close to their establishments are only maintained well and others are in poor state. We have decided to cancel adoption and civic body will maintain them," he added.

Under smart city mission, the civic body started creating vertical gardens under flyovers initially and the new gardens are being created under clean air programme now. In February 2021, the civic body commenced allowing adoption of vertical gardens.

The official said that some sewage treatment plants installed to water the gardens are not functional. "We will repair the treatment plants. Plants in the vertical gardens require periodic replacement," he added.