গান্ধীবাগ শিলচরের ফুসফুস, এখানে কংক্রিটের জঙ্গল নয়, মন্তব্য বরিষ্ঠ নাগরিকদের
Gandhi Bagh is the lungs of Silchar, can’t allow it to be turned into jungle of concrete: Leading Citizens

September 3: Probably Gandhi Bagh 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 was how Tamal Kanti Banik and many other 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).

On Tuesday, a Citizens Meeting was convened by Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha at the Club House of Dasharupak, Silchar to garner public opinion on this issue. Speakers cutting across political spectrum and cultural ideology raised an unanimous voice against the move of Silchar Municipal Board (SMB) and decided to oppose this move tooth and nail. The meeting chaired by Subrata Bhattacharjee, President of Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha, a conglomeration of 30 plus cultural associations was attended by advocates, teachers from school, college & university, bankers, officers, cultural activists, members of political parties, NGOs, entrepreneurs, Municipal Commissioners, merchants and press and media.

Nikhil Paul communicated a message of MLA Silchar Dilip Paul who was unable to attend the citizens meet as he was out of the town but at the same time he assured be beside the larger opinion of the society. Basudev Sharma, President of All Assam Bengali Hindu Association (AABHA) said that 17 bighas of land in the heart of Silchar town at Gandhi Bagh was given to APDL on lease at a throw away price of only Rs.10,000,00. Moreover, that amount too will be returned back to the builders on the completion of this project. He categorically stated, “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 at Gandhi Bagh.”

Advocate Satyajit Dey informed the members present there that Municpal Chairman has filed a caveat in Gauhati High Court in this regard so that the judiciary cannot impose instant stay order. Sariffujaman Laskar, Arup Vaishya and Rupam Nandi Purkayastha said that such commercial construction at Gandhi Bagh besides the martyrs column of the Language movement at Gandhi Bagh is most unwelcome and such moves should be opposed by all means.

Dr. Shovan Duttagupta, Research Coordinator of Centre for Integrated Earth Development of Assam University said that he sought via RTI, the Environmental Impact Assessment report of such new constructions at Gandhi Bagh in April 2019 but has failed to get any response from the Municipality. He supported the proposal moved by Tamal Banik regarding approaching National Green Tribunal and assured all help in this regard.

Santanu Sutradhar, an entrepreneur said, “How can a Chairman of Municipality take such whimsical decision without consulting it with others? Is the Gandhi Bagh a paternal property of SMB? We have to teach them a proper lesson. Ashish Bouwmick, Simanta Bhattacharjee, Krishanu Bhattacharjee, Dipak Sengupta, Swarnali Choudhury, Sajal Banik, Ranjan Roy and Arindam Deb all opposed the move of SMB.

Ajoy Roy, General Secretary of Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha said that Pijush Hazarika, Minister of State [Independent] Urban Development, Health & Family welfare [State] Govt of Assam is going to lay the foundation stone of the Amusement Park on 5 September, 2019. In this regard an invitation card was also printed by SMB wherein names of invited guests were printed which include former MP Kabindra Purkayastha, MP Silchar Dr. Rajdeep Roy, MLA Silchar Dilip Kumar Paul, State Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, DC Cachar and other MLAs.

He lamented that on a personal level many of these dignitaries were not in favour of making hotels and shopping complex at Gandhi Bagh. So now it is to wait and watch whether they attend the foundation stone laying ceremony as against the wishes and aspirations of the people of Silchar.

Finally, it was resolved that a memorandum to be sent immediately to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Pijush Hazarika and other concerned persons seeking their intervention in halting the project. Further, on 4 September, a memorandum in this regard will be submitted to Laya Madduri, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar. On 5 September, 2019, a protest demonstration will be held at Gandhi Bagh near the statue of Kazi Nazrul Islam by individuals and organisations wearing black badges.

Also Read: Gandhi Bagh Amusement Park: Pijush Hazarika to lay foundation stone on 5 September!