“There is nothing much we can do about the situation. We can neither restrict them from stealing the material nor can we tolerate it,” said a helpless Satya Sharma, a contractor hired by the Guild to construct the fair’s pavilion. Sharma, associated with the Book Fair for the past ten years, said he never faced this kind of problem before. “There are so many bamboos in the ground. What will happen if we carry away a few pieces of bamboo?” said 10-year-old Aftab. The boy, like many others, has carried away several bamboos and clothes from the venue.

“The construction of the fair pavillions began on January 17. In these five days, we have lost a good number of bamboos and other material. My staff is being threatened by locals in case they are prevented from taking away the construction material,” said Sharma. No steps have been taken to control the theft after the contractors complained to the Guild. The Guild, which organises the fair, is perhaps the worst sufferer. It cannot complain against the locals who would create havoc if the civic body or police took any action. The fair begins on January 30.

Fair under High Court scanner again
The Calcutta Book Fair is again under the scanner of the High Court after a division bench comprising Chief Justices SS Nijjar and Pinaki Chandra Ghosh today asked the organiser of the fair and the state government to file an affidavit on how the book fair would affect the environment in the adjoining areas of the Park Circus Maidan. The fair is scheduled to begin from January 30.

The organiser, Publishers and Book Sellers Guild and the state government, have been asked to submit their affidavits by Wednesday. In 2007, the Guild had to shift the fair from the Maidan to Salt Lake following a High Court decision. The court had then observed that a gathering of thousands will increase the pollution level in the air.

The latest intervention from the court came during the hearing of a PIL filed by Dipendra Mohan Sen, a resident of Darga Road, and other residents of the area complaining that the Maidan was not suitable for holding the book fair since it falls in the silence zone for hospital and educational institution located in the area. Thousands of visitors will come in vehicles for two weeks and as a result, pollution will increase manifold, said Asoke De, counsel for the petitioners.