人口一千四百萬的印度大城加爾各答，要讓城市全面藍化。從政府到民間建筑、市內出租車到名勝古跡，全部都要換穿天藍色的衣服。這項旨在傳達城市精神的措施，因為要求私人建筑自行負擔油漆成本，而招致民怨。加爾各答市長試圖說服市民，說藍色很美而且讓眼睛很舒服，可是居民就是不爽，就算這項措施成功落實，加爾各答也不會是印度第一個與天空同色的城市，印度著名的旅游城市——久德浦爾，被稱為“藍色之城”，已經有一段時間。

Calcutta's chief minister has ordered the city of 14 million residents to be painted sky blue

Calcutta's chief minister has ordered the city of 14 million residents to be painted sky blue, taking inspiration from the new Indian government's motto, "the sky is the limit." The BBC reports the mandatory changes will affect everything from government and private buildings to local taxis and even historic landmarks.

"From now on, all government buildings, whenever they are re-painted, will be done in sky blue," Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim told The Indian Express newspaper. "The owners of private buildings will also be requested to follow the same colour pattern. The necessary government orders will be issued soon."

While the compulsory color changes are meant to invoke national spirits, they are just as likely to anger some people, since owners of private buildings are being asked to foot the bill to pay for the cosmetic changes to their property.

Of course, officials undoubtably will be wary of stirring up too much controversy, lest residents gather arms and set out to paint the town red.

"Blue is a beautiful colour and is also soothing for the eyes," Calcutta mayor Sobhan Chatterjee told the Indian Express, referring to the color change.

Calcutta won't be the only blue-streaked area in India. Tourist haven Jodhpur is sometimes referred to as the "Blue City" due to the bright blue-painted houses surrounding the Mehrangarh Fort. Likewise, other Indian cities have made monochromatic changes to buildings and landmarks. The BBC reports that in 2006, authorities in Bihar had the entire city painted pink to improve spirits in the crime-infested region. The Indian city of Jaipur, often referred to as the "Pink City," is also known for its pink dominated hues.

And just a few years ago, rumors were circulating that the Chinese government was converting one of its provinces into a "green suburb"--as in the color green, not environmentally-friendly green. That story turned out to be a hoax.

There are also less intrusive and more benign efforts being made to re-paint large swaths of the urban landscape, such as painting roofs white to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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(Agencies)

（英語點津 Rosy 編輯）