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KMC's Plan to Build a Stadium on the Laha Colony Ground has Triggered a Wave of Protest from locals

By sachiv1, Section Sports & Fun
Posted on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 01:55:25 AM EST

Residents of Raja Nabakrishna De Street at Hatibagan are seething in anger at the prospect of losing the only open space in their congested locality the Laha Colony ground.

Following a report published in TOI on March 31, Hatibagan residents have joined hands to force the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to scuttle its plans. They were particularly encouraged by the success of another save-the-greenery mission that saved Deshbandhu Park from being taken over for an indoor stadium project.

The civic body has sanctioned CPM MP Sudhangshu Seal's project to build a stadium, gymnasium and a swimming pool at the historic Laha Colony ground that was once used by the Mohun Bagan club. But the project has run into a storm of protest. Local clubs are planning coordinated demonstrations.

"We have been kept in the dark about the project. So far, we thought KMC would start a sports complex for local children without adding any construction on the park. Now, it
seems they have other plans which will make the ground out of bounds for local people. This is unacceptable. The bottomline is that the open space should remain," said Jayanta Bhattacharya, a local resident. His views were echoed by neighbours who are drawing up a memorandum to submit to the civic authorities.

"First, we will approach local party leaders. If they refuse to help us, we shall go to the mayor. If that fails, we will start a protest movement. There are many who will come forward to save the park," said a member of a local club.
Public opinion is already gathering momentum. Senior citizens have urged KMC to save the park. A stadium, they say, will deprive them from taking their morning walks at the park. "The greenery should be preserved. A sports complex is fine but it should not keep the locals out. This has always been an open park," said Ganesh Vedaggya, a resident of Nabakrishna De Street for 40 years.

They are angry that neither councillor Karuna Sengupta nor local CPM leaders have been forthcoming about KMC's plans for the ground. "We have been under the impression that they are planning a children's park, a garden and sports facilities for youngsters. But nothing was ever said about a stadium. That will be disastrous. We will do all we can to prevent it," said Tarak Das, a resident.

The protests have made the authorities sit up and take notice. On Monday Sudhangshu Seal said the decision to build a stadium will be taken only after consulting locals. "There was a demand for a sports facility. It could be done either by augmenting the existing infrastructure or by having additional facilities like a gymnasium, a swimming pool and a gallery. A stadium is an option but if residents are against it, we will cancel the project," Seal said.

(Source-Times Of India,03/04/07)

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