Bengal government considers allowing Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarobar
Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul says the festival could return to the lake if pollution-control measures are implemented.
The Bengal government is open to permitting Chhath Puja celebrations at Kolkata’s Rabindra Sarobar this year, provided necessary steps are taken to prevent pollution, according to a report by Telegraph India. State Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul stated on Wednesday that the government is looking for an amicable solution regarding the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order.
If the festival is allowed, it would return to the south Kolkata lake after a six-year hiatus. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority banned the celebrations in 2020 following an NGT order, which was later upheld by the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. The restrictions aimed to protect the 73-acre lake's ecology from large gatherings and ritual-related pollution.
Minister Paul questioned the exclusion of local devotees, asking where residents of nearby neighbourhoods would observe the festival. She noted that any permission would be subject to strict pollution-control precautions.
Environmentalists and experts have raised concerns regarding the proposal. Green technologist S.M. Ghosh warned that the festival could lead to a repeat of a 2018 situation where authorities failed to manage crowds.
Ghosh noted that migratory birds have already arrived at the lake and could be forced to relocate or die due to noise and pollution.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar also stated that the ecologically sensitive water body must be protected from noise and large gatherings. Chhath Puja, a festival dedicated to the Sun God, is scheduled to be observed on November 15 and 16 this year.