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Government Plans Public Review After Suhrawardy Avenue Renaming Controversy
The West Bengal government is creating a careful process for changing road names.
This follows a dispute about renaming Suhrawardy Avenue in Park Circus.
A committee of 10 people will study proposed names.
The government plans to publish a public notice before changing a name.
People will be allowed to send objections and suggestions.
Some people may also speak at a public hearing.
The committee will then recommend what should happen.
The committee is led by Kartik Maharaj and will meet at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters.
The earlier renaming was supported by Suvendu Adhikari, but the article says he may have confused two different people with the surname Suhrawardy.
A 10-member committee will review proposed road, avenue and street name changes in Kolkata.
The government plans to publish notices inviting public objections and suggestions before any renaming decision.
People objecting to a proposed change will be invited to hearings, after which the committee will prepare a final proposal.
Kartik Maharaj of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha will chair the committee, which includes government and civic officials.
The process follows the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s June 20 decision to rename Suhrawardy Avenue as Gopal Mukherjee Road.
Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari supported the renaming, but officials said he appeared to confuse two historical figures named Suhrawardy.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, a 10-member road renaming committee, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and officials including Kartik Maharaj are involved.
- What
- The government will establish a public-notice and hearing process for proposed road name changes after controversy over Suhrawardy Avenue.
- Where
- The issue concerns Suhrawardy Avenue in Park Circus, Kolkata; committee hearings are planned at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters on S.N. Banerjee Road.
- When
- The committee was announced on Saturday; the Kolkata Municipal Corporation announced the Suhrawardy Avenue renaming on June 20, while the committee’s first meeting date has not been set.
- Why
- The government wants to consider historical, cultural, social, heritage and public significance and avoid rushing future road renamings.
Supporters of Renaming
Supporters of Public Review
Whether the avenue should be renamed
Supporters of Renaming
Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari praised the decision to rename Suhrawardy Avenue, saying roads should not bear the name of someone who had blood on his hands.
Supporters of Public Review
Government officials are reluctant to proceed quickly and want public claims, objections and suggestions considered before a final decision.
How decisions should be made
Supporters of Renaming
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation announced the proposed change to Gopal Mukherjee Road on June 20.
Supporters of Public Review
The new committee will examine historical, cultural, social, heritage and public significance, hold hearings and submit a final proposal to the Assembly or state government.
Historical identity involved
Supporters of Renaming
Adhikari’s stated criticism referred to Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, described in the article as the “Butcher of Bengal.”
Supporters of Public Review
The article says Adhikari appeared to have confused Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy with scholar Hassan Suhrawardy.
Key facts
- Committee size
- 10 members
- Committee chairperson
- Kartik Maharaj of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha
- Public process
- Public notices, a deadline for objections and suggestions, and hearings
- Committee office
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters on S.N. Banerjee Road
- Earlier decision
- Suhrawardy Avenue was announced for renaming as Gopal Mukherjee Road on June 20
- Government position
- Officials said the government does not want to rush road-name changes
- Committee schedule
- The chairperson will set the first meeting date; the committee plans to meet weekly
Quotes
A senior state government official
State government official describing the proposed road-renaming consultation process
“Primarily, it has been decided that following a proposal for a change of name for a road, avenue or street in Calcutta, a public notice will be issued seeking claims and objections.”
telegraphindia.com
“The committee members have just been named. Let the Durga Puja celebrations be over; we will decide on the first date of meeting... We plan to meet once a week.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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