BJP Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta on Thursday appealed to the Centre to “take over” the organisation of the Pous Mela, citing Visva-Bharati’s inability to hold such a large fair while abiding by the Green Tribunal’s norms.

“Over the past few years, the scope and scale of this fair has grown exponentially, to the extent where lakhs of people now come… it has become more or less impossible for the university to be able to handle it,” Dasgupta said in the Rajya Sabha.

Dasgupta has also written to Prime minister Narendra Modi, the varsity’s chancellor, on June 14, with the request.

Visva-Bharati had earlier this month decided not to organise the annual fair, saying that the central university lacked adequate infrastructure and found it difficult to conform to green rules.

“I would appeal to the central government….to actually take over the organisation of the Pous Mela, save a very esteemed institution and at the same time, keep the cultural heritage of the university,” Dasgupta said.

Rajya Sabha chairman and vice-president Venkaiah Naidu asked the HRD minister to “take note” of the matter.