Reporter’s diary: Smart City official with ‘anti-greenery superpowers’

One of the attractions of the bustling commercial hub would be the city’s first pedestrian plaza, where people could engage in recreational activities.

However, whenever developments occur, it would cost lots of trees falling on its way and the T Nagar pedestrian plaza is no exception. The people and activists had opposed chopping down trees.

A top official of Chennai Smart City Limited, who also faced such opposition, wrote a witty post on his social media page explaining that the pedestrian plaza project has increased the number of trees rather than in reducing greenery. He also posted a photograph of newly planted trees.

He jokingly added that a few months ago, he saw a social media comment, which criticised him that he had been hired by the government to destroy the greenery of Chennai. “Didn’t realise I was bestowed with such awesome anti-greenery superpowers,” he wrote. Admitting that the comment had saddened him for a few minutes, he continues, “but told myself that only actions matter, not words and good sentiments. Let the new trees and the future shade and goodness they provide speak for themselves.”

Let’s hope the official, who had joined a gym recently, strengthen his ‘superpowers’ to add more greenery to the city.