Kolkata: A resolution to hand over the Alipore land was passed in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation mayor-in-council meeting on Thursday. According to the resolution, the 4.2 acre land owned by the KMC will be handed over to the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) for auction. The state govt wants to monetize the land to earn substantial revenue for running the welfare schemes for underprivileged people.However, questions were raised in the MiC meeting about the shifting of the veterinary hospital and an aquarium that used to draw a large number of visitors.
A KMC official present at the meeting told TOI that WBHIDCO would need to take up responsibility to reconstruct the existing infrastructure once the land is handed over to the state agency. “The WBHIDCO will need to find an alternative land for reconstruction of the veterinary hospital or the aquarium after demolishing these infrastructures before going for an auction process,” said a KMC official.
The land and land reforms department has already finanlised a note on the auction for cabinet approval. Once the cabinet gives a nod, the WBHIDCO will proceed with the auction, said officials.
The land parcel, situated at 34A Belvedere Road, houses a quarantine centre for animals brought from other states or countries for the zoo, an aquarium, an auditorium, an animal hospital, a nursery, and staff quarters.
The auction of the land is likely to fetch around Rs 300 crore to the state coffer.