No end to smoking in Botanic despite fire

HOWRAH: Green activists led by Subhas Datta on Sunday surveyed the devastation at the Botanic Garden in Howrah's Shibpur, where a fire had charred 28 trees the day before. They blamed shoddy management and lack of security for the blaze, saying that nothing could prevent a similar incident again if the authorities did not tighten the vigil at the historic garden.
The fire is believed to have been caused by a cigarette stub, but even on Sunday, a lot people were seen smoking inside the garden. Botanic officials said that dry leaves are kept in ditch, to be used as manure during the monsoon. The cigarette stub probably landed here and sparked the blaze.
"At least 28 big trees were charred, besides some banana plants. The garden authorities must wake up and put a disaster management system in place so that the precious garden can be saved," said Datta after visiting the garden.
Daily Walkers' Association president Chittaranjan Roychowdhury said, "The authorities must ban smoking inside the garden. But a large number of securitymen also have to be deployed to make sure that the ban is enforced. There is a police camp inside the garden. But personnel are never there to handle security matters."
In fact, some of the revenue from Botanic Garden goes into paying a part of the policemen's salary but they are utilised by Shibpur police station for law-and-order duty beyond the garden limits, claimed a Botanic officer. This is why they are hardly there in the garden on duty.
Ila Sarkar, a morning walker said, "The security personnel don't allow us to even carry water bottles with us during our walks, yet people take in all sorts of things including inflammable articles with them. It is amazing how so many people can smoke here only a day after the fire."
According to security personnel, stray crimes are common in the garden. Only a few days ago, the fence along the Hooghly was breached by thieves. A complaint did not yield any results. "Early this year, we took Howrah SP
K Kusumakar to the police camp. He assured us that policemen would be made available for the security of the garden. But nothing was done," said a morning walker.
Security guards suspect the fire could also have been caused by a prank.