Kolkata CM Adhikari Inspects Parks, Alleges Encroachment
Kolkata Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who also serves as the MLA for Bhowanipore, conducted an inspection of two key public parks in the neighbourhood of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening. During the visit, he flagged what he described as a worrying pattern of encroachment and restricted access in the city's green spaces.
Harish Park Inspection
The primary focus of the inspection was Harish Park, where Adhikari examined the condition of the grounds and spoke with Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials about restoring the park's character as an open, public facility for local residents. According to an official present at the park, Adhikari asked civic officials to ensure that neighbourhood residents could participate in sports and games without fear. The official stated that the chief minister was taken aback by information suggesting that the park's use had allegedly been cornered by members of the Banerjee family and their associates, turning a public space into a controlled zone where access depended on political proximity rather than citizenship.
Adhikari was particularly upset about the running of a badminton court that had allegedly barred local youths who were not connected with the ruling party. The KMC official indicated that the issue was not merely about maintenance but about exclusion. The court, meant to be a community sporting facility, was cited as an example of how informal control can translate into denial of access for ordinary neighbourhood youths, especially those without links to the party network. The official added, "The chief minister is particularly upset not only about restricted sporting access but also about the impact of events that prioritised revenue over ecology. Holding fairs for commercial gains had damaged the park ground and its greenery. The CM has instructed us to protect the greenery of Harish Park and all other major parks in 144 KMC wards." This visit was framed as part of a broader directive to safeguard public parks across the city.
Chetla Park Visit
After spending about half an hour at Harish Park, Adhikari moved to Chetla Park, where he inspected public utilities and reviewed how the space was being used by residents. Another KMC official said that Adhikari instructed the civic brass to ensure that more citizens from Chetla and its adjacent neighbourhoods make the best use of the park.
Elliot Park Restoration
Besides Harish Park and Chetla Park, both within his Bhowanipore assembly constituency, Adhikari is also keen to restore Elliot Park in the Maidan area. This park was developed as a public-private partnership more than two decades ago.
Meeting with KMC Officials
Later in the evening, Adhikari went to the Borough IX office in Alipore and held a meeting with KMC officials. The meeting was attended by Debalina Biswas, the Trinamool councillor who had resigned as chairperson of the borough after the KMC buildings department pasted notices on some prime properties owned by Abhishek Banerjee. When asked why she joined, Biswas said it was an administrative meeting. "The chief minister discussed with us several important civic services. As a councillor, it was my duty to attend the meeting and contribute in whatever manner possible," she said. A KMC official stated that the chief minister sought immediate action on core civic issues. "From water supply to flushing of storm water to parking woes, several important issues were discussed, and we were instructed to prepare a roadmap to achieve time-bound results," the official said.
