KOLKATA: A non-government organization that works towards the protection of environment in Kolkata has written to Kolkata Municipal Corporation commissioner Binod Kumar, pointing to a recent NGT order in Delhi to keep parks free from encroachment.
“We have come across a report about an NGT order pertaining to the granting of permission for the use of parks. We felt it was important, particularly in the context of the recent Calcutta High Court suo motu order on the Maidan,” said Bonani Kakkar, founder of PUBLIC.
Earlier this month, the NGT had directed three civic bodies in Delhi to strictly enforce orders prohibiting weddings, cultural, commercial and other functions at parks. The order was issued while hearing an application that said wedding functions being held in west Delhi’s Vikas Puri Dussehra ground were flouting environment norms.
Civic officials had pointed to a loss of around Rs 3.5 crore a year to the three corporations but the NGT had held firm. All three bodies later confirmed that they had stopped taking park bookings.
PUBLIC has argued that KMC should also take similar steps and stop leasing out parks and squares for fairs. They also want the KMC to act against encroachment in parks, including Deshapriya Park, where construction activities are under way.
Several parks in the city, including Deshapriya Park, Jatin Das Park, Vivekananda Park and Triangular Park in south Kolkata; Ramilala Maidan in central Kolkata and Bagbazar Park and Shraddhananda Park in north Kolkata are regularly used for events.
“We are calling for responsible use of parks. Parks are meant for greenery and use by citizens to exercise and play. If any organization does use the park, they should have the commitment and the capacity to clean up and restore it,” she pointed out. She further argued that while KMC may be allowing the use of the park for a fair and a Puja twice a year, the park usually remains unusable for nearly three-four months a year.
“This NGT is not about us. If there is an order to us, we will look into it,” said a KMC official.