Green belt fading on Avenue

kolkata: the state government is preparing a project report on how to improve the rabindra sarobar area in south kolkata, said municipal affairs minister asoke bhattacharya. the green belt on southern avenue, adjoining rabindra sarobar, is gradually losing its sheen. the boulevard running along the middle of the two-kilometre stretch of road connecting golpark and rashbehari avenue is in a shambles.local resident and morning walker d.k. chakraborty blamed the calcutta municipal corporation and the calcutta improvement trust for the neglect. “many trees, have been uprooted,� he alleged. in fact, the felled trees are being used by the slum-dwellers and workmen, living in make-shift shelters on both sides of the avenue, as fuel. “this is in gross violation of the green bench orders. even the police are turning a blind eye,� said som das, a resident of keyatala lane. not only the trees, but more than half-a-dozen swans ambling around at one section of the boulevard, have been missing, too. though some said they were slaughtered and consumed, the workmen rubbished the charges. while the cit officials refused to comment, the police pleaded helplessness. “it is not possible for us to count the trees everyday and prevent their felling,� said an officer of lake police station. cmc member mayor-in-council (parks) hridayanand gupta, admitting the lack of maintenance, promised to convene a meeting with the residents and the local councillor to sort out the matter immediately. “if any private party wishes to take over maintenance work, we will welcome it,� he said.