Save Gandhi Bagh, Save Green: Mass demonstration held

November 9: The voice of protest for preservation of the greenery at Gandhi Bagh, Silchar is gaining momentum day in and day out. Rally, protest demonstration, street cornering, signature campaigning – everything is done by the conscious citizens and numerous organisations and parties to build up pressure. On Saturday, overcoming the rainy weather, people joined in a mass demonstration held near the main gate of Gandhi Bagh.

The mass demonstration on Saturday was convened by Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha and Forum for Social Harmony. With placards hung on their neck, the activists raised slogans in a thundering voice. “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,” said Arindab Deb who moderated the event.

Nandini Bhattacharjee in her short yet power packed speech upholded the rich history of Gandhi Bagh. Representing the century old Silchar Sangeet Vidyalay, Mrs. Bhattacharjee narrated how the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were brought here at Gandhi Bagh after his death. She said, “I have heard from the elders of my family how people assembled at Gandhi Bagh in thousands when his ashes were kept in an urn over here before it was immersed in river Barak. The urn was was kept for 7 days. People used to come and sing ‘Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram’. Gandhi Bagh is not just a piece of land, it has history, tradition, emotion all mixed into one. Here we have the holy shrine built as a mark of tribute to our 11 language martyrs, who are our pride, our markers for self-esteem. I would appeal -please don’t erase our memories, leave aside Gandhi Bagh from being a heap of concrete.”

Speakers representing their organisations demanded that the erection of commercial building and star hotel should be immediately stopped. Simanta Bhattacharjee who represented Barak Upottaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan also appealed to the masses to get involved in large numbers so that the Municipal Board becomes compelled to stop the construction work. He assured full support to this movement by his organisation. District Congress President, Pradip Kumar Dey also criticized the Silchar Municipal Board (SMB) and said, “We cannot accept such endeavour by the SMB. We demand that the Municipality should immediately step back from turning Gandhi Bagh into a jungle of concrete.

Others who spoke during the occasion were Bhaskar Bhattacharjee from Surobhi, Tapas Bhattacharjee from CPI(M), Debojyoti Gupta from DFYI, Nanda Dulal Saha from Silchar Merchants Association. Organisations like Ganasur, Dasharupak, Sammilito Lok Mancha and others took part in this demonstration.

Later on speaking to way2barak, Arindab Deb said, “As regards our next course of action, we will be discussing with all the organisations and individuals who have lend their support to us and then chalk out the future course of action. Alongside, we are also contemplating to go to judiciary very soon. We are happy that many organisations have come forward today. We are particularly happy by the presence of the representative of Barak Upottaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan.”

Amid wide protest, the foundation stone of Gandhi Bagh Amusement Park was laid by Pijush Hazarika, Minister of State [Independent] Urban Development on 5 September, 2019. At present there is 19 bighas of land at Gandhi Bagh, out of which 2 bighas of land has been placed under a project of AMRUT. Over the rest 17 bighas of land, an Amusement Park, star hotel and a shopping complex will be built. This will be constructed under PPP Model. Construction Company Assam Progressive Developers Limited (APDL) has been assigned the work.

The proposed Amusement Park will consist of Open Float Slide, High speed body slide, Cloud theme rain dance, Crazy river, Food court, Indoor sports, Multipurpose hall, Cricket pitch, Wave pool, 7 platform water play system, Pendulum slide, Mushroom umbrella, Boating facility on Sap Nala and some other things. Further, a car parking, Star Hotel and a commercial building has also been proposed near the Amusement park.