Samitis lock horns with CR Park RWAs as Puja nears

The RWA of K Block,where the “Milan Samiti” organised pujas in the last nine years,declared a ban on the celebrations this year. Uttara Mazumdar,Secretary,K Block RWA,said,“None of the residents of our block are involved in this puja. People from A and B blocks,besides residents of places as far as Kalkaji and Govindpuri,come for it,They block the park till Kali Puja (Diwali).We have developed the park in the last five months under the Delhi Parks and Garden Society. We have put up a rock garden and planted expensive plants. A religious function will completely destroy the fauna.”

Residents have also expressed concern over the safety aspect of such pujas. “The park is

surrounded by houses on all sides. I have never even seen a basic fire extinguisher there. Last year,a cylinder burst in the park. Though nobody was injured,why should we face such as risk?” asked Dr Mitra,a K Block resident.

Though the residents of J Block did not take such a firm

stand,they were still wary of the celebrations. “This puja wins all the prizes every year. We are proud of it too,but environmental concerns cannot be ignored. The place where they cook the bhog (food and prasad) has become uncultivable. ,” Dr K T Bhowmik,president of the J Block RWA,claimed.

The organisers of the puja,however,are learnt to have struck a deal with the residents of J Block. They have been promised that plants bordering the park will not be uprooted,and the organisers will pay the RWA Rs 50,000 for upgradation work after the puja.

Sumit Sen,a lawyer in J Block,said,“Thee samitis block the parks for months — it is completely illegal,” he said.

The residents had written to the Lieutenant-Governor,the Chief Minister,local councillors and the police in this regard. Their complaint was forwarded to the Conservator of Forests by the Chief Minister in February.