সবুজ বাঁচাতে পথে নামলেন সংস্কৃতিকর্মীরা
Gandhi Bagh: Citizens take to streets to save green

September 5: Citizens of Silchar town under the banner of Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha (SSM) rented the air with their slogans against the Chairman of Silchar Municipal Board (SMB). The Mancha is a conglomeration of 30 plus cultural associations of the district. Cultural activists stood on both end of Park Road wearing black badge and raising slogans against the proposal of construction of Amusement Park, a hotel and market complex at Gandhi Bagh.

Leading citizens of the town reacted on the issue of building shopping mall and star hotel along with an Amusement Park over there at Gandhi Bagh by Assam Progressive Development Limited (APDL). When on one hand, the Managing Directors of APDL were seen waiting eagerly along with some BJP leaders and supporters for Pijush Hazarika, Minister of State [Independent] Urban Development, Health & Family welfare [State] Govt of Assam was arriving to lay the foundation stone of the Amusement Park, the cultural activists were opposing this move of SMB and were raising slogans “Pijush Hazarika Go Back.”

Hanging play cards in their neck, they were opposing the move of SMB in allotting 17 bighas of land in the heart of Silchar town at Gandhi Bagh to APDL. Gandhi Bagh they said is the lungs of Silchar town. Gandhi Bagh probably is the only oxygen producing area amidst the tall buildings of present day Silchar town, but now Silchar Municipality Board (SMB) has finalised to wipe out the lungs out of the body of Silchar. This they said is a move by the Municipal Chairperson for his own vested interest.

“I too want that Amusement Parks should come up at Silchar but not at the cost of sacrificing the green of Gandhi Bagh. I support all sorts of democratic agitation against this decision of Silchar Municipality. There should be Amusement Park and big hotels outside the town area but not inside Gandhi Bagh,” said Arindam Deb. Former Municipal Chairman and present Ward Commissioner Tamal Kanti Banik said, “No such decision of construction of Amusement Park along with star hotel and shopping plaza was adopted in any Board Meeting. This is nothing but the high handedness of the Chairman. We cannot just allow the lungs of Silchar town to get chocked due to illogical and scrupulous decision of one man. It is not the private property of the Chairman.”

At a time, the activists tried to break the barricade near the bungalow of the DIG which was cordoned off by state Police and CRPF. However, they were debarred from doing so. It was around 4.15 PM when suddenly the convoy of Pijush Hazarika advanced towards Gandhi Bagh. At once, slogans were again raised, “Go Back Pijush Hazarika.” Black Flags were waved at when the convoy of the minister was passing through club road.

Later on speaking to way2barkak, Ajoy Roy, Secretary of Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha said, “We are not going to bow down. This agitation will go on till this project is dropped by the SMB. We will file complaints with the National Green Tribunal. We have already sent memorandums to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Assam, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Pijush Hazarika and others.”