Leading the condolence meeting were a guitarist and some singers as wreaths were placed on the stump of the teak tree.
Kolkata has just witnessed a curious condolence meeting, for a tree that the bereaved claim was "murdered", cut down in its prime. The tree was at a park frequented by morning walkers in the Rabindra Sarobar area. Tree lovers have complained to the police and plan to also go to court.
Leading the condolence meeting were a guitarist and some singers as wreaths were placed on the stump of the teak tree. Mourners say they noticed the tree at Safari Park had been cut down on September 29. They gathered there on Sunday morning to pay homage and also seek justice.
"We are actually condoling the murder of a tree inside Rabindra Sarobar which is a 192 acre national park in Kolkata," said Mudar Patherya, tree lover and environmentalist. "The condolence has been organised by apolitical citizens who love nature, love birds. We plan to file a PIL next," he added.
The government owned park is maintained by a private body. Sumita Banerjee, member of a panel appointed by the Calcutta High Court last year to oversee upkeep, said the tree was cut by mistake by labourers clearing the undergrowth. Her view angered the mourners.
"There are lots of trees at Safari Park. I am not saying that excuses the tree being cut. But the supervisor has been served a suspension notice and they have promised to plant 10 trees as replacement," she said, adding, "I have said we should overlook the mistake and ensure it doesn't happen again."
But tree lovers are not willing to overlook the "murder". "This is a loss for us," said morning walker Dhrubajyoti Chakraborty. Tree lovers and bird watchers who frequent the park plan to step up vigil so that they don't have to shed tears for a teak again.