Dear Residents,
We are writing to address the misleading and ill-motivated article published on the front page of ‘Samvada’ regarding the Diwali Mela organized by our society. The article, penned by Sarang Gupta (9111), is riddled with inaccuracies and appears to be driven by a personal agenda.
We would like to provide a point-by-point rebuttal to the article, based on facts.
Complaints about High Stall Prices: Contrary to the article’s claims, the stall prices for this year’s Diwali Mela were uniform at Rs. 15,000 (inclusive of GST) for a two-day period. This is a significant reduction from previous years, where stall prices varied arbitrarily and sometimes exceeded Rs. 25,000 + GST per day.
The whole event was handed over to one agency and the organizer presided over every decision related to the event, from arbitrary charging the stand prices to allocation of stands by locations at her own will.
Diwali Mela Concentrated in 7-10 Towers: The article’s criticism of the Diwali Mela being concentrated in a limited area is unfounded. Due to the society’s linear design, it is not feasible to spread the event across the entire premises.
Loud Music Past 11pm: The article’s claim that loud music continued past 11 pm is incorrect. The DJ music was normalized at 10 pm and completely stopped at 10:30 pm.
Outside Vehicles of Vendors Continued to Park Inside: This allegation is false. The AOA had reserved a specific area for vendors’ vehicles, and two guards were deployed to manage the incoming traffic. Tower guards were also briefed to ensure that no outside vehicles were allowed to park inside.
Food Area: The food area was designated in the same location as in previous years. The addition of the clubhouse hall provided extra seating space for residents. While the response to the food stalls was overwhelming, leading to temporary overcrowding, this does not indicate poor management.
Unhappy Housekeeping Team: The article’s claim that the housekeeping team was unhappy is unfounded. Additional housekeeping staff was deployed to maintain the cleanliness of the gardens and surroundings.
In light of these facts, the AOA and the cultural committee condemn the misleading article and its writer.
