Gautam Deb

Calcutta, June 25: CPM leader Gautam Deb today said Mamata Banerjee’s decision to scrap the land acquisition process in New Town would hit planned urbanisation of the township and infrastructure development, and expressed fear that proposed projects of companies such as Wipro and Infosys could also be affected.

The chief minister had yesterday announced that no further land acquisition would take place at New Town in Rajarhat and scrapped the previous Left Front government’s decision to acquire 1,587 acres for which notices had already been issued.

Deb, who was housing minister in the Left government, said three key projects that constituted the core of New Town’s planning — a 220KV power sub-station, waste disposal and road connectivity — would “come to a halt” if the land acquisition process was stalled. “This will affect the one million-odd people who are expected to inhabit the town once its completed,” he said.

“Around 90 acres are required to set up a garbage-dumping system and a waste-management project in New Town. We had done the planning in such a manner that garbage would not have to be dumped in open areas as is done in Dhapa. If land is not acquired, the project will not take off,” Deb said.

“Experts on urbanisation have said that in the next 15 years, one million people will reside in Rajarhat. Where will all the garbage be dumped then?” asked Deb, who was the previous chairman of Hidco, which is developing New Town. The former housing minister said Mamata’s announcement would hit the process of building two key road links to New Town — one from Bantala and the other from Ganganagar near Calcutta airport.

“New Town now has only one connector, which is from Salt Lake’s Sector V. A portion of the land we had earmarked for acquisition for the proposed roads from Bantala and Ganganagar is part of the 1,587 acres. Work on building the eight-lane Ganganagar road has begun. What will happen to these projects?” Deb said.

“Mamata need not speak to me. But she should have at least discussed the plans for Rajarhat with the officials concerned. We had put in a lot of planning. How can you stop the process of planned urban development all of a sudden?” the CPM leader asked.

Deb said the proposed projects of IT majors Wipro and Infosys would be affected if land acquisition in Rajarhat was stopped. “Around six acres of the land earmarked for Wipro’s second campus and two-three acres of the proposed Infosys campus are part of the 1,587 acres. These projects will be affected if land is not allowed to be acquired.”

Villagers in Rajarhat welcomed the chief minister’s decision. Residents led by Trinamul leaders brought out processions. “The previous government had imposed its plans on us. We would never have parted with our land willingly. The new government has taken a huge burden off our shoulders,” said a villager from Mondol Ganthi mouza.