CPM takes on Mamata’s Dankuni corridor project

State urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharjya,meanwhile,has written a letter to the Railway Board,alleging that many people will be evicted if the North Eastern head office of the Railway Recruitment Board comes up at the proposed site in Siliguri.

He has claimed proper compensation from the Railways for the affected people.

A six-member team led by Tarapada Chakraborty — CPM legislator and chairman of Assembly Standing Committee on Fisheries — has visited Railway site at Dankuni.

Chakraborty said about 40 acres of water body was filled by the Railways. “How did the fisheries and agriculture department officials maintained silence over this matter?” asked Chakraborty. “They should take action against the unlawful act.”

P Ranganathan,District Magistrate,Hoogly,said an inquiry will be initiated in this regard. As per land department documents,a 40-acre water body was in the area,the DM admitted. In fact,over the last two weeks,locals backed by the ruling CPM have staged demonstrations in many parts of the state against the Railways’ land acquisition. The party is now trying to share political benefits from anti-land acquisition stir which the state has been witnessing for nearly five years.

The party has also decided to launch a resistance against land acquisition for the Railway projects throughout the state,citing the “draconian” Railway Land Acquisition Act to justify their resistance. “We vehemently oppose imposition of the Act which has been passed off as Railways Act 2 in 2008,” Deb said at a media conference. “Though the Act was passed by the UPA-1 government backed by the Left parties,we did not support it. If such an Act is being imposed,public fury will be invited.”

Didi promises Railway jobs

At a time when one after another railway project in the state is facing resistance from the CPM,Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today promised a railway job for every family that gives land for the new projects and compensation at the current market price of the land.

Banerjee was in Sagardighi in Murshidabad district today for the foundation stone laying ceremony of a double line track from Sagardighi to Rampurhat. She further said she was trying to create industries in the area so that people from districts like Murshidabad do not have to migrate to other states in search of work.