A section of the morning walkers have been picketing outside Central Park in the mornings since Monday, the day the authorities started charging an entry fee from morning walkers.
So long, morning walkers entered Banabitan free of cost till 10am but from August 1 the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC) has imposed a Rs 10 entry fee. The decision had been announced well in advance but some walkers are up in arms about it.
On Monday, the first morning, according to officials, 112 people bought tickets and went for their daily walk. The number went up to 128 on Tuesday.
But those who are against the fee are not convinced. “The park has always been free for walkers so why should we pay now? We collected over 200 signatures from walkers since the fee notice was put up and sent letters stating our objection to the WBFDC, principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force and the chief minister.
Some members, led by a walker Bikashendu Biswas, even went to meet forest minister Jyotipriyo Mullick, who assured us he would look into the matter,” said Subrata Ghosh, a resident of HA Block who has been walking at the park for over 20 years.
Most of the protesters are senior citizens. Members of a laughing club performed exercises at the gate itself. The authorities called the police, who were on standby.
Besides daily tickets, the authorities are offering options of monthly tickets for Rs 300, a half-yearly one for Rs 1,600 and a yearly one for Rs 3,000 but protesters reason that the park already charges Rs 50 for those entering after 10am.
Forest department officials point out that the entry fee is in keeping with the policy across the city. At the Salt Lake stadium, morning walkers have to pay Rs 10 daily. At Eco Park, the rate is Rs 1,000 per month (6-8am in summer and 7-9am in winter) though one can walk on the ring road from Gate 1 free of cost.
“We have spent Rs 2 crore on the park’s maintenance and beautification. Can residents of Salt Lake not spend Rs 10 for the excellent environment and facilities? We had consulted stakeholders in advance and most of them said they would be happy to contribute to the maintenance of the park. As it is, the ticket price is a small part of the expenditure we are incurring. It will become a jungle if people refuse to pay even this,” said an official.
The protesters say their agitation is not about the money. “We can afford Rs 10 but our fight is ideological. In this concrete jungle, it is the government’s responsibility to allow us space to breathe in fresh air without having to pay for it,” Ghosh said.
“If they need more, let them restart angling and boating. Why charge the elderly who come here to keep fit?” asks Sanjay Paira, a Karunamoyee resident.
Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick told The Telegraph Salt Lake that he would see whether raising the daily ticket price for the rest of the day can offset the revenue that is supposed to be generated from the morning walkers.
Write to saltlake@abp.in