A notice to 140 hotels from the district administration on November 11 had read, “Regarding Coastal Regulation Zone violation by hotels/resorts and homestays in Mandarmoni, Purba Medinipur, all stakeholders are hereby directed to demolish and clean your illegal construction by November 11, otherwise legal action will be taken.”

This was after an order of the National Green Tribunal regarding the violation of the “Coastal Regulation Zone” by the hotels and resorts.

According to sources from Nabanna (state secretariat), Banerjee said that bulldozers “will not be allowed”. Before issuing the notice, the district administration did not consult or inform the state secretariat, nor did they inform chief secretary Manoj Pant, The Indian Express has learned.

“The Chief Minister is stunned. How can the district administration issue demolition notices? The CM has given necessary instructions to revoke such an order and desist from such moves which will affect the livelihood of thousands of people,” said a senior state administrative officer.

Mandarmani in Purba Medinipur district is a major tourist destination in West Bengal by the sea. Thousands of tourists visit the area every day, and local communities thrive through tourism activities in the area.