State tourism minister Gautam Deb on Wednesday expressed annoyance over the Bengal Travel Mart organisers’ move to dig up the…
State tourism minister Gautam Deb
State tourism minister Gautam Deb on Wednesday expressed annoyance over the Bengal Travel Mart organisers’ move to dig up the Bagha Jatin Park grounds to set up temporary structures for the three-day tourism event. Mr Deb also raised questions over the role of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) on the same.
The event that will begin on 16 February is being jointly organised by the state tourism department and the North Bengal Development Department (NBDD), in association with the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA) to promote Bengal as an ideal destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
The holes dug up for the bamboo structures sparked a controversy after Trinamul Congress councillors of the Left-run civic board raised objections yesterday. Mr Deb visited the park on Wednesday. “I am against the digging of the park. The North Bengal Development department had undertaken a beautification work, planted grasses and handed the park over to the SMC.
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The damaging of greenery cannot be tolerated. But at the same time, the civic body should have specific guidelines, and ‘Dos and Don’ts’ should be put up around the parks. Had there been such standard mechanisms on the use of the park, the controversy could have been avoided,” he said.
Mr Deb said the deputy director of the tourism department had forwarded a letter to SMC, seeking permission for the event to be held at the park, while he made it clear that he did not make any personal request for permission. The civic body allows political programmes, sports meets and two pujas in the Park, but does not allow commercial programmes.
Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya said they were reluctant to give permission, despite the letter they got from the tourism department. “We agreed to allow when minister Deb called the civic body commissioner. We have also raised objections over the digging of the park. We have allowed them to carry out the programme with special permission,” he said.
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