‘No tolerance for encroachment,’ says CM, warns officers of action
Times of India | 3 January 2025
12 Kolkata: Cracking the whip on illegal land encroachment, CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would not tolerate the loss of revenue due to lapses by govt officials or party functionaries. During an administrative meeting at Nabanna, Banerjee asked home secretary Nandini Chakravorty to head a committee to formulate a policy on land encroachment and submit a report within six months. She said that govt would take firm action against encroachment.
Banerjee asked officers to see that no new govt land was occupied and asked police to take action against those who were constructing buildings on govt land and selling them illegally. "They are outsiders and after selling off the flats they are leaving... they need to be brought to book. How the properties were allowed to undergo mutation and who permitted the construction need to be probed to punish the guilty officers.
Even if retired officers were involved, action would be initiated," the CM said. "DMs, SPs, and all police officers, including ICs and OCs, should remain vigilant. There will be zero tolerance... If a neta tries to speak on behalf of the encroachers, action should be taken against them as well," Banerjee said and added that DMs and SPs would be held accountable for illegal filling-up of waterbodies. The CM criticised some Birbhum OCs since there had been an increase in sand smuggling.
She said some TMC netas were minting money from the smuggling. Banerjee directed officers to prepare a list of govt lands that were occupied, and said that 100% compensation would be collected from those using the land commercially. "Those who have illegally occupied land, built structures, and sold them to others before fleeing must be brought back. If necessary, their property must be seized as it is done by the ED and CBI," the CM said.
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