Till end of 2007, residents of Orient Row and Talbagan Lane have followed the developments with growing trepidation. By Wednesday, they had had enough and went public, lambasting the government and civic authorities for thrusting an event of the magnitude of book fair on a residential neighbourhood that is already struggling to cope with traffic.  “It is a potential law and order problem and a health and environment hazard,” said Asish Banerjee, president of Orient Row and Talbagan Lane citizen’s forum We Care.

nvironmentalist Subhas Datta, whose PIL led to the fairs being shunted out of the Maidan, also questioned the logic of holding fairs in parks meant for xercising and recreation. “The government should spell out its policy on parks that are being encroached the year round to hold commercial events. In he evenings, more than 500 children play at the Park Circus ground. Where will they go?” he said.

The area around the Park Circus Maidan has two schools - Don Bosco Park Circus and Mahadevi Birla Girls High School, two hospitals - Islamia Hospital and Chittaranjan National Medical College and Hospital, one college - Lady Brabourne College. Other than these there are several private nursing homes too.

Clarifying that they were not against the book fair, both parties demanded that the government expedite the construction of the permanent fair ground Milan mela instead of inconveniencing lakhs of residents by encroaching parks and clogging neighbourhoods with traffic. “There a prevalence to brand someone who speaks against the book fair as ‘anticulture’. The book fair is a commercial activity and should be treated likewise. The guild, publishers and booksellers generate several crores of business through gate receipts and sales. How can it command a high moral ground while suggesting that schools be shut down two hours in advance to facilitate the fair?” Datta shot out.

Residents are equally belligerent. “The book fair is being thrust on the neighbourhood without the consent of residents. It will severely disrupt our lives. We are being punished without an offence,” said Banerjee. “The prospect of 20 lakh footfall may be attractive to fair organisers but certainly not to us. At the very least, we apprehend an increase in petty crimes and fear graver law & order issues,” forum secretary Shahensha Mirza said.

“A social audit should be done and the Guild must pay for the environmental pollution caused in the area. They must be accountable for the damage casued," Mr.Dutta said warning the Guild not to organise the fair once again at Park Circus Maidan in 2009.