Dutta has threatened to file an appeal in the green bench of the High Court against the civic body’s plan to temporarily relocate the shops from the market in the park which is used by schools and local residents.

The controversy began a month ago when the civic body started fencing of nearly 60 per cent of the park area for relocating the shops. This was, however, resented by students of nearby BD School and local residents. Some of them even took to streets to protest against it.

“The BD park is the only open green space in the area. We have no other option but to appeal to the green bench of the court to save it,” said Dutta. He also claimed that the markets had initially been set up to cater to the residents of a particular block. The mall, he added, is being imposed on the residents of the BD block.

“The park was used by the children of the school and by residents in the area. How can the civic authorities change the master plan and construct a multi-storied shopping mall in place of a two storied market?” asked Dutta. Mackintosh Burn Limited is building the G+8 mall, which will come up at the market area.

This is not the first time that Dutta will be fighting against the civic body. In 1997, he protested against the construction of community centres and other structures in the parks of Salt Lake.

The civic body, on the other hand, refuted Dutta’s allegations and justified the fencing plan. Chumki Banerjee, the councillor of ward number 7, said that 40 per cent of the park has been left vacant for the use of the residents of the area. “Moreover, this (shifting of the shops) is only a temporary arrangement,” added Banerjee.