Sourav’s dream school gets an intellectual headache

Trouble started brewing at Salt Lake’s CA block ever since the construction of Ganguly’s Wissen International School started about 15 days ago. The Urban Development Department recently leased out an oval 63-cottah plot at CA 222 to the former cricket captain,to build “an integrated school from the primary to the higher secondary level”.

“We are not against Ganguly,but against the double standards of Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattacharya. Ganguly was shown a plot in BF block but then suddenly he was allotted a plot in CA block,which already has two English medium higher secondary schools. What credentials does Ganguly have to start a school? We were happy when he started a cricket coaching camp here,but why a school?” asked Sabyasachi Dutta,a Trinamool Congress leader and also an executive member of the NGO. He said the plot could be given to a group of trustees or a body that already had experience in running a school.

With the Left Front’s recent debacle in the state and the Bidhannagar municipal elections due next year,Councillor of ward number 1 Ila Roy,a CPM leader,is also wary of supporting the school project. “I am not against the school project. But with two schools already in the block,a third school will only add to the traffic woes of the residents. I am a resident of the block and I know that the residents do have some genuine issues against a third school in the block,” said Roy.

“As of now,the project is on. I have spoken to the residents and they also had a meeting with Ganguly on May 30 where they voiced their grievances. He has assured them of full co-operation. He is not in India right now and as soon as he is back I will brief him about Tuesday’s incident,” said a close relative of Ganguly,who is also involved in the project.

Incidentally,CA Block Citizens Association did not join the sit-in demonstration. “We did not join the NGO as it has a political colour. We are having regular meetings to discuss our course of action,” said Vivek Kundu,president of the association. Other members said that they were thinking of moving court on the issue. “If there is another school in the block we have to leave this place. During school hours the area is jampacked with cars and busses,though the vacant plot of CA 222 is now used as a parking lot,” a resident said.

“We met Ganguly on May 30 and he assured us that work would be halted for two weeks. But that did not happen. He has not kept his word,” said Kundu.

Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattacharya,meanwhile,said: “The place was marked for a college or educational institute. The project is on. We would be happy if the problems can be solved through dialogue,” said.

“I went there as an individual. Bhattacharya is only promoting Ganguly. If he wants to open a school to help the people,then there are hundreds of places in the state that do not even have a primary school. Setting up a school in this area means there is a business proposition involved,” said Suvaprasanna.

With the Left taking each step with great caution,and the intellectuals backing the citizens’ fights,Ganguly’s dream school could find it difficult to see the light of the day.