KOLKATA: Barely any activity was visible at Rabindra Sarobar on Wednesday evening other than a handful of labourers digging holes along a section of the perimeter wall to plant logs for barricading the area. The gates were unmanned. There were no posters along the guardrails outlining the salient points of the NGT order or listing the alternative waterbodies available in the vicinity for Chhath Puja. Evening walkers appeared sceptical about what lay in store with KMDA set to appeal for allowing Chhath here on Thursday, a day before the festival.
With 48 hours to go for Pehla Ardhya, the third day of Chhath when worshippers travel to a waterbody to pray to the setting sun, the scene at Sarobar was in sharp contrast to what had prevailed two days prior to Chhath last year. Then, police pickets had been set up at all the gates, posters had been strung up announcing the Lake's closure and the NGT ban order. Over the past month, KMDA had organized two stakeholder meetings to convince KMC councillors in adjoining wards as well as members of the community to cooperate with the order and perform Chhath elsewhere.
KMDA did initiate a campaign in select localities on Wednesday, urging devotees to comply with the NGT directive. But it was rather muted, probably owing to the uncertainty over whether the ban will be in place or the Supreme Court will allow Chhath to be performed at the Lake. Last year, a much more high-decibel campaign had been initiated nearly a fortnight before Chhath. Posters and festoons detailing the NGT orders had been displayed all over the Lake's periphery railing. None had been put up till dusk on Wednesday.
Police deployment, or the lack of it, was also conspicuous on Wednesday. This day last year, there were a good number of police personnel at the gates. Inside, there were security guards. All of them appeared resolute to stop Chhath devotees from entering the Lake complex. This year, private security guards have not received any order yet on stopping devotees.
A large part of the wall on the southern side adjacent to Tollygunge station was found completely open. Last year, this wall had been vertically extended with corrugated tin sheets at least two days before Chhath.
Morning and evening walkers as well as environment activists were also a lot more expectant of a positive outcome of the long-drawn campaign last year. This year, there is a large dose of skepticism about KMDA's intent and a tense wait for Thursday Supreme Court verdict.
Sumita Banerjee, a Lake enthusiast, said, “We have urged KMDA to carry out their duty to comply with the NGT order. The order is still prevailing till the apex court uphold or upturn it. But this year, KMDA’s body language lacks confidence. What they will do on the day of Chhat is a million-dollar question.”
Mrityunjoy Chhatterjee, another Lake lover, added: “We are not against Chhat devotees. Our only concern is the environment of the Lake that has decayed over the years, thanks to felling of trees and concretization. Chhath Puja is definitely an assault on the biodiversity of the Lake.”