Gopal Maidan remains littered on Thursday, a fortnight after Swadeshi Mela. (Bhola Prasad)

Mounds of stinking garbage have stopped regular walkers in their tracks at Jamshedpur’s Gopal Maidan.

Named after slain Tata Worker’s Union president V.G. Gopal, the ground in the heart of the city at Bistupur, is a favourite haunt of the health-conscious and fair organisers alike.

Spread over four acres, the ground usually attracts morning walkers from nearby areas. However, two major fairs in quick succession have left the greens virtually inaccessible for walkers who are offended by the stink and risk injury because of the numerous holes that were dug to fix poles for the fair stalls.

The ground hosted the mega trade fair between September 17 and 30. Barely had the green recovered from that onslaught, it was time for the weeklong Swadeshi Mela that kicked off on October 13.

Though the mela ended more than a fortnight ago, Tata Steel sports department, which is responsible for maintaining the grounds, is yet to wake up to its pathetic condition.

The mela has left a portion of the ground resembling a garbage dump. The refuse, piled along the boundary wall, has begun stinking so much that regular walkers have been giving the maidan a wide berth. Compounding the problem are shallow trenches that have been dug all around.

Contractor’s Area resident and senior citizen Sudesh Choudhary was a regular walker till recently. “I have been going to Gopal Maidan for the past 20 years but I have never come across such a situation. Garbage is not the only problem. The ransacked venue can also result in injury,” he said, unable to hide his disappointment at being forced to stay home in the mornings.

But though walkers are complaining, the rag-pickers are a happy lot. “We are allowing rag-pickers to enter as that way some garbage is being removed. But the bigger problem remains as it is impossible to remove all the rubbish manually,” said one of the groundsmen.

He added that their hands were tied as they could not initiate any move on their own. “We can just wait and watch. A lot of work will be needed to bring the ground back to shape,” another ground staff said.

Walker and Kadma resident Mantosh Ahluwalia urged the authorities to take urgent steps to bring the ground back to shape. “The mela has ended but the litter remains. Aren’t the authorities aware about this?” he asked.

Bistupur resident Priya Verma suggested a radical solution. “The ground should be used exclusively for sports. Melas just ruin the beautiful ground. There are other grounds in the city where such events could be organised,” she said.

Captain Amitabh, head of Tata Steel sports department, promised that the garbage would be removed in a day or two. “I am aware of the problem. I am going to visit the ground to take stock of the situation,” he said.

Should fairs be allowed on Gopal Maidan?

Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com