Siliguri: A fresh dispute cropped up over the digging of Baghajatin Park in the heart of Siliguri on Wednesday.

The Left-board of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), which organised a programme on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day on Wednesday, was accused of digging the ground to build a dais by Trinamul councillors.

The SMC had raised questions over the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association (EHTTOA) - the largest association of the stakeholders of travel trade in the region - digging the ground a few days back.

The association had hired the ground from the civic body to organise the third edition of the Bengal Travel Mart (BTM).

The three-day BTM was held from February 16 to 18.

"The mayor and other Left councillors had time and again raised questions over the travel agents digging the ground and damaging the park that was beautified by the north Bengal development department and handed over to the SMC. They had even threatened to take steps against the association and granted a special permission only after we intervened. But the civic body itself flouted the norms for today's event. The ground was dug to build a dais for a programme organised by the SMC," said Ranjan Sarkar, the leader of opposition at the SMC.

Sarkar, along with some other Trinamul councillors, visited the ground. They later met mayor Asok Bhattacharya to register their protest.

During the past 10 days or so, Baghajatin Park was at the centre of dispute, particularly ahead of the BTM.

"This is because the ground was dug and it was apprehended that it would get damaged for the travel mart. Even state tourism minister Gautam Deb had expressed displeasure and asked the organisers why they did not select another venue to host the event," said an observer.

After the event, sources at the civic body said even a decision had been taken that in future, EHTTOA would never be allowed to use the ground.