Kolkata: State urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday said she was unhappy with the poor condition of Subhas Sarobar, a century-old artificial lake near Beleghata off EM Bypass.She visited the lake after morning walkers and regular visitors complained about poor maintenance, dirty grounds, broken benches, lack of security, and alleged anti-social activities at night.Paul said, “The agency that has been given the responsibility for maintenance is collecting huge amount of money, but there is no service. There is no water or electricity in the bathrooms. Anti-social activities like gambling and betting are taking place in the night as complained by locals. No regular cleaning is done. The morning walkers said that the place was cleaned because I was supposed to come.”Subhas Sarobar is the city’s second-largest waterbody after Rabindra Sarobar. It covers 98 acres, including a 39.5-acre waterbody.The minister said the lake’s gates are allegedly left open at night, creating security problems. She also pointed out that one swimming pool is closed, another is very dirty, most benches are broken, and the lawns have become overgrown.Paul said, “There is a swimming pool which is closed. Another swimming pool is in a very dirty condition. Most of the benches are broken, there is no maintenance, the lawns have turned into bushes and thickets.”She said the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation will take corrective steps. Lights will be repaired, roads will be fixed, fields will be maintained, and the neglected open gym and rowing club will be looked into.She added, “We will give 100 mats for citizens to do yoga free in the area.”Paul also raised questions about an old club where an OPD was reportedly running, a closed marriage hall, and an anglers’ club. She said it must be checked how fish are being caught and whether any revenue is being paid to the govt.The minister instructed the agencies responsible for the lake’s upkeep to quickly clean and revamp the premises. She said she will make another surprise visit after two weeks to check whether action has been taken.Earlier, KMDA had prepared a Rs 1.1 crore plan to rejuvenate Subhas Sarobar. The plan included a revamped walkway around the lake and protection of eroded banks with stone boulders.
