The nine-decade old landmark Aam Bagan in the heart of city at Sakchi is facing encroachment threat again these days. So much so that the four-acre ground used as a play ground and for hosting socio-cultural and religious function has fallen victim to negligence.
More than five makeshift motor garages have again returned on the south eastern side of the Aam bagan ground barely two years after the administration had removed encroachment at the ground in association with Jusco. Not only this but long distance buses, several two-wheelers and four-wheelers and SUVs can be found illegally parked all around the ground from morning to evening.
The playground has Aambagan Masjid on its southern side, Rajasthan Vidya Mandir — a state-owned high school — in the north, The Bengal Club and residential apartments in the west and the Thakurbari Road in the east.
“We are concerned over the situation. The Aam Bagan is an important landmark. Several senior politicians have addressed rallies here. Moreover, we had grown up playing on this ground and I used to take part in morning walk. But I have stopped as there is no space left for morning walk on the ground and that apart the ground is not hygienic for walking due to mounds of garbage and waste littered on the ground,” Rajen Tiwary a retired Government employee.
Incidentally, Jusco with help of the district administration had undertaken anti-encroachment drive on the four-acre Aambagan ground on October 2014 and had started putting up boundary walls across the ground.
In past a joint team of East Singhbhum district administration and Jusco conducted an on-the-spot survey of the ground and gave orders to carry out anti-encroachment drive at the ground and construct boundary wall across the ground to prevent violation.