SALBAGAN

Salbagan still a den of miscreants

Salbagan at the outskirt of Cooch Behar town is going to be recognised as a nature observation centre. Earlier, the area was known as a den of antisocial elements. It is still a place for many of them to run their regime without any resistance.

The Bengali word 'Salbagan' means a garden of Sal trees. It came up in the days of Maharajas of Cooch Behar. Though the garden was named after Sal trees the garden is mostly of Teak trees. It is believed that saplings of the world famous Burma Teaks were planted here in those days.

On 22 April, state tourism minister Mr Manabendra Mukherjee laid the foundation of a nature observation centre here. State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy and many other senior forest department officials attended the programme. It was announced that the state tourism department approved a Rupees one-crore plan to make the place an eco-tourism centre. Weaving a beautiful picture of future the speakers told that Salbagan would turn into a charming place of tourist attraction after a facelift. They also said that arrangements would be made here to conserve different species of butterflies and birds. Pedal boating facility will be added after renovating the almost dry canal of Mara-torsa river.

But, the ambitious plan exerted no influence on the ruffians. Many of them are still active in the area. Salbagan is a popular place to the picnickers but many families go there to spend a few hours in the very own abode of nature. Taking this as advantage the hooligans very often snatch ornaments and valuables from the visitors. Armed with daggers and other arms they even molested young girls and housewives. Seldom the ashamed victims lodge complaints to the police only to keep their identities secret. Locals said after a few years of absence the hoodlums started appearing once again at Salbagan and disturbing the peace loving people. The police should keep watch on the area to maintain peace, they opined.

Secretary of Salbagan Development Committee Mr Mahananda Saha said they constituted the committee to develop the area to promote tourism. They would never allow any disruptive activity there. They will appeal to the police and administration to take steps against the antisocial persons, he promised. On the otherhand, state forest minister Mr Roy said that security measures and vigilance at the area would be enhanced once the area promoted as a tourist spot. He opined that local residents should come up to resist and drive away the miscreants.