Bengal government considers allowing Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarobar
Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul says the festival may return to the south Kolkata lake if pollution-control measures are implemented.
The West Bengal government is considering allowing Chhath Puja celebrations at Rabindra Sarobar, according to a report by Urban Acres. Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul stated that the festival could be permitted if sufficient precautions are taken to manage pollution.
The festival has not been held at the 73-acre lake for six years. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) imposed a ban in 2020 following an order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Minister Paul questioned why local devotees and residents of nearby neighbourhoods are excluded from using the lake for the festival. She suggested that an amicable solution regarding the NGT order might be possible.
Environmentalist S.M. Ghosh warned that permitting the event could constitute contempt of the 2017 NGT order. Ghosh described a previous event as a total mess and noted that large gatherings and noise could impact migratory birds at the lake.
The legal restrictions on the lake have been upheld by the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. Previous concerns raised in a contempt petition included the use of loud music, crackers, and the offering of sweets, fruits, and oily substances.
The debate involves balancing cultural use with the needs of morning walkers, rowers, and the lake's ecological protection.