Kolkata, 17 March (H.S.) -The West Bengal government will not tolerate illegal encroachments under any circumstances. During the Question Hour session in the Assembly on Monday, the state’s Urban Development Minister, Firhad Hakim, made this clear. He stated that as per the government's land policy, no land can be allocated without an auction or approval from the cabinet.

The issue of illegal encroachment is not new in the state. Various parts of West Bengal have witnessed land being illegally occupied, leading to frequent concerns. In some cases, land has been forcefully taken over for real estate promotion, while in others, hawkers have unlawfully occupied footpaths and public spaces. In recent months, several multi-story buildings have tilted or collapsed, intensifying opposition criticism. The opposition has accused the municipal administration of negligence and collusion in allowing illegal encroachments to flourish. On Monday, BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh raised this issue in the Assembly, to which Firhad Hakim responded, reiterating the government's firm stance.

It is noteworthy that nearly a year ago, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also took a tough stance on the issue. She convened a high-level meeting at Nabanna to discuss plans for clearing encroachments from footpaths. The issue of illegal parking was also raised in the meeting. The Chief Minister had categorically stated that her government would not tolerate illegal encroachments. She directed the police and administration to take action against such occupations. However, she later mentioned that a survey would be conducted to assess the situation, and further action would be taken based on its findings.

Mamata Banerjee also clarified that the intention behind the survey was not to take away anyone’s livelihood or shut down businesses. The government’s objective is to systematically develop Kolkata and other parts of the state. Despite this, the opposition has continued to attack the government on this issue. They allege that sections of the Trinamool Congress and the police administration are facilitating illegal encroachments in exchange for money. However, the government has dismissed these allegations.

Now, Firhad Hakim has once again reinforced in the Assembly that the state government will not tolerate illegal encroachments and will take strict action against them.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh