Uncertainty over Poush Mela on Visva-Bharati campus

SANTINIKETAN: A blame game between the Santiniketan Trust and Visva-Bharati has put a question mark on holding of Poush Mela on Bhubandanga ground inside the campus from December 23.
The Santiniketan Trust wrote to Bolpur Municipality chairperson Parna Ghosh on November 3 saying that the four ponds surrounding the Melar Math had garbage and water hyacinth, making it impossible for the fair organizers to access water for Poush Mela.
Trust secretary Anil Konar mentioned in the letter that the ponds were VB property. "We wrote to VB three months ago and are yet to get a response," Konar said in the letter. The Trust expressed its "inability" to organize the Poush Mela this year. The Trust urged Tagore admirers to take initiative and continue with the age-old tradition at Tagore's abode.
According to convention, Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor was among the members of the Trust. But the present VC, Bidyut Chakraborty, declined to become a member.
Konar told TOI that the Trust had urged the varsity to let them know if VB would provide infrastructure for organising Poush Mela on varsity grounds. "We also wrote to Bolpur Municipality because it had helped us organise Poush Mela at an alternative site last year," Konar said. Municipality chairperson sounded positive. "We are going to help them if they ask for help," Ghosh said.
VB public relation officer Mahua Banerjee said, "According to a Trust Deed executed long before Visva-Bharati came into being, the holding of the Poush Mela is the responsibility of the Trust."