Kolkata: A minor ruckus occurred near gate no 5 of Rabindra Sarobar on Saturday afternoon after a group of Sheetala Puja devotees allegedly tried to forcefully enter the premises with their puja items.The security personnel shut the gate, stating not more than two persons were allowed to collect water from the Lake for religious purposes. There was a minor altercation as cops also visited the spot and the gathering was dispersed.A KMDA official said that no gathering for puja was allowed on the Lake premises as religious rituals, social gatherings, and festival-related activities were prohibited in the Rabindra Sarobar waterbody area under orders of the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court. The restriction is aimed at protecting the Lake’s fragile ecosystem, water quality, and biodiversity. To enforce the order, authorities seal entry points during festivals.
