Biggest land acquisition in West Bengal soon

Government officials said the land is being taken to fulfil a “public purpose” and the policies of the present governemnt are not being compromised. “It is not being taken for setting up any private industry. The project is for the benefit of poor people,’’ an official of the department told The Indian Express.

There were about 32,000 families whose land is being taken for the housing project and 50 per cent of them are squatters, said ADDA. While for “genuine” land owners, the government will compensate according to the provisions of Land Acuisition Act of 1884, for the squatters, the government is working out a compensation package. Sources said the compensation to the squatters will be similar to the one awarded to farmers in South 24-Parganas district whose land was taken for building embankments for resisting cyclones like Aila.

The “genuine’ landowners will be paid the price in accordance with the market value — a solatium of 30 per cent of the market value and some more small benefits. “A large chunk of the land (for the housing project) is barren. Even though there is some agricultural land, all are single crop ones. There had been some opposition from some of those who were encroachers and we have overcome them. Negotiations are on to pay them some amount of compensation too,’’ Acharya said.

Exclusive Bench to hear cases of crimes against women

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has constituted a separate appellate bench (Division Bench) to hear cases of crimes

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