KOLKATA: As the Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly had made Aussie skipper Steve Waugh wait for him at toss. On Wednesday afternoon, Maharaj was made to wait for 20 minutes by the residents of Salt Lake's CA and BA blocks.

Ganguly was in Salt Lake to meet residents opposed to his school on a prime 63-cottah plot in CA Block. In the 40-minute discussion that followed, representatives of the residents' association aired their grievances, saying that since there were already two schools along the same road, another would add to the congestion and pollution. Sourav's Wissen International School would make it three schools in a row on a 20-foot wide road. On Sunday, the residents had agitated against the school's construction.

Ganguly listened patiently, and at one point, said with some exasperation that had he known the school would have led to so many problems he would not have chosen the plot, sources said. Construction work was put on hold for two weeks after Wednesday's meeting.

Speaking to the media later, Ganguly asserted that the institution would come up on that plot and he would try his best to sort out the problems. "I spoke to the residents of CA Block and heard out their grievances. We will talk to the other two schools about congestion and try to address the objections of the residents. The school building will definitely come up and the problems will also be sorted out," he said.

The residents of CA and BA blocks, however, stuck to their earlier position. "We have told Ganguly about our objections. We stand by our demands. Sourav has agreed to halt construction work for the next 14 days. We hope that the problem will be sorted out," said CA Block residents' association vice-president Bibek Kundu. The association will discuss the matter in its governing body meeting.

Ganguly said the meeting was fruitful. "Can't a house come up beside another house? Trouble can occur any time and can also be sorted out," he said. His uncle Sanjoy Chatterjee, who was present at the meeting, said work would continue. "Construction will go on. We are trying to solve the problems," he said.

Asked about his future plans vis-a-vis schools, Ganguly said there was a beginning to everything. "I love to set up schools. I have a cricket academy here in Salt Lake. I hope the school benefits people," Ganguly said.