West Bengal responds to citizens’ plea, to reopen parks from tomorrow

KOLKATA: Rabindra Sarobar, Subhas Sarobar and all major parks in Kolkata are set to reopen from Monday.
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities recognised demands from a section of senior citizens and morning walkers and decided to reopen lakes and parks under their jurisdiction from Monday. Officials of KMDA, the custodian of both Rabindra and Subhas Sarobar, said that the lakes will reopen for three hours daily — from 6am to 9am — for 18+ age group vaccinated citizens.
A KMC parks department official on Saturday said the parks will be reopened for morning walkers for three hours in the morning— 6 am to 9am. Again, the parks will open for three hours from 3pm. The decision to reopen parks was taken after the civic brass started receiving appeals from citizens across Kolkata.
A large section of morning walkers of Rabindra Sarobar were repeatedly requesting the government authorities to allow the lake to reopen for a few hours in the morning. A section of them even wrote to the state chief secretary and KMDA. KMDA had forwarded a proposal to the urban development department last week.
“We thank the urban development department and KMDA for allowing morning walkers to enter the lake for their morning walks, which will help them to boost their immunity and physical fitness. Morning walkers are requested to maintain safe distance and wear masks,” said environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh. Ghosh added that the authorities should also consider reopening the lakes from 4pm to 6pm soon for those who prefer their daily strolls in the evening.
The reopening of parks will take place in phases. In the first phase, all major parks have been reopened. In the next phase, the neighbourhood small and medium parks will be unlocked for the citizens. “We received several requests from citizens, especially from morning walkers, to reopen parks. Then we took up the matter with the civic brass, who readily agreed and gave a nod,” said a KMC official.
However, reopening small parks in the neighbourhood where Covid cases are still on the rise will be kept out of bounds for the residents. “We can’t take the risk of reopening parks where several Covid cases are still active. And those who will be allowed to enter large parks will need to follow Covid protocols,” said a civic official.
Swati Ghosh, a resident of Lake View Road and a senior citizen, welcomed the decision. “It is the need of the hour. As a morning walker, I was feeling totally confined,” said Ghosh. In New Town, there are a few parks maintained by NKDA and a section of residents there also want the parks to be reopened for them.
NKDA officials said Eco Park Ring Road was open for morning walkers where people were having their daily stroll. “As for the parks in New Town, there is not much demand for its reopening as of now but will reopen them if there are demands,” said an official.