Kol's art landmark disappears after 27 years; citizens left clueless

Kolkata, Nov 27: A landmark built at the Science City just disappeared after 27 years and only rubbles could be seen. The 30-foot Paroma statue at the Paroma island was ordered to be removed and replaced by a Globe by the Trinamool Congress Government. Sources believed that Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim felt Paroma was too old.

The artist Shanu Lahiri had installed it in 1987. She died last year. And after Monday night's incident, her daughter is in shock and is relieved that her mother is not around to see this.

Damayanti Lahiri said,"It is just outrageous, it is unthinkable, we have been seeing it for nearly 30 years and suddenly its gone and nobody knows anything about it. And no, I was not informed about the removal. Forget the family. Don't the citizens have a right to know?"

Despite repeated calls to the traffic and the transport department and chief Executive Officer of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority-S Gupta, the officials refused to divulge any information.

Renowned artist Usha Uthup said,"Where is Shanudi's statue gone? You tell me. I am so sad, I can't tell you. I have absolutely no political agenda in this. The only reason I want to know is because I am a citizen. Shanudi was a great artist and you can't remove her statue just like that."

Writer Amit Chaudhuri said,"he government's relationship to public space - as embodied by the sudden unexplained disappearance or removal of the statue and the blue and white colour scheme - is repressive."

OneIndia News