The cleansing of 14-acre Bikramgarh Jheel, South Kolkata’s second-largest water body after Rabindra Sarobar has excited Bengali folk-fusion band Bhoomi’s Soumitra Ray, who is a member of the Bikramgarh Jheel Bachao Committee. The news has also amazed local residents as well.
Speaking exclusively to News Ei Samay, Soumitra said that he is extremely happy after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has taken effective initiative to clean up the Bikramgarh Jheel. The highly neglected Bikramgrah Jheel was covered with water hyacinths and piling saal logs along the bank.
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Bikramgarh Jheel restoration wins praise from Bhoomi’s Soumitra Ray and residents
Soumitra said, “I am very happy to hear the news about the restoration of the jheel. Although I have not witnessed it physically, I have seen the photos of Bikramgarh Jheel posted by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).”
Recently, KMC posted two photographs of the jheel, depicting two different conditions- one taken before the cleanup, and the second one after the cleanup. “We encourage citizens to visit the Bikramgarh Jheel at Prince Gulam Hussain Road. Waiting to see your selfies at the spot.” the post of the civic body read.
The long-neglected Bikramgarh Jheel is located between the South City residential complex to the north along Prince Gulam Hussain Shah Road to the south. Everyone became aware of the bad state of the Bikramgarh Jheel after Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) posted a video of an excavator on a floating platform eradicating the heavy covering of water hyacinth that covered the waterbody.
When asked about the past condition of the jheel, Soumitra said, “previously the water level of the jheel was not even visible as it was surrounded by waste materials like plastic, bottles, and other debris. The main problem was that the jheel was not cleaned up frequently. It was done once in a year or two.”
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Soumitra’s request got turned down by the government
Soumtira, who lives in the neighbourhood of the Bikramgarh Jheel and who has also actively campaigned for the restoration of the jheel had sent a letter to the Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs of West Bengal, Agnimitra Paul. “I had a chat with the secretary of Agnimitra Paul regarding this and he assured me that every necessary action will be taken care of.”
Soumitra had previously asked for the intervention of the then Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, for the restoration of the jheel. Soumitra said, “Previously, I had requested the then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take a look into this, and she had also assured me that the very needful would be done. But those were only words.”
“I also had a chat with then Golfreen councillor Ratan Dey, and former Power Minister Aroop Biswas but again, there were no effective outcomes as nobody paid any heed to the matter,” Soumitra added.
In 2015, Mamata Banerjee proposed a Rs. 7.8 crore AMRUT scheme project for restoring the Bikramgarh Jheel, but only Rs. 2 crore were spent for the initiative.
What could be the future measures for beautifying the jheel?
When asked about the future initiatives for restoring the Bikramgarh Jheel further, Soumitra is hopeful that it will be beautified. “I would say that not only the removal of water hyacinths will work for the beautification of Bikramgarh Jheel. Alongside cleaning up the area, frequently checking on the water quality, introducing walkways beside the jheel, and setting up lampposts in the area are required. These ventures will help children, senior citizens, and other locals to come visit the area for their morning or evening walk. I am very hopeful that these intiatives will be taken care of, and Bikramgarh Jheel would be an ideal place for people to visit.”
