CPM demands realignment of NH 34 'bypass'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 2 DEC: Backed by the CPI-M, residents of Jadupur in English Bazaar block of Malda district have demanded a fresh alignment for a proposed bypass for the National Highway 34. The bypass would branch off the highway at Jadupur in the southern end of Malda and connect Narayanpur in the northern end covering more than nine Kms.

The villagers decided to resist land acquisition in the proposed area following a land acquisition notification by the National Highway Authority on 12 November. According to the villagers, the proposed alignment would affect homestead land of many. “The NHAI authority had earlier proposed to take the by-pass through a different alignment which would not have affected us. We, however, notice that the previous proposed alignment has been changed and now we are in the line of fire,” the villagers alleged. The villagers have formed a ‘Bhumi Raksha Samiti’ to save their

interest.

Accompanied by former CPI-M English Bazaar MLA Mr Samar Roy, the villagers submitted a deputation to the additional district magistrate (land) Mr K N Dew yesterday. Mr Samar Roy told the ADM that the NHAI authority has changed the previous alignment of the proposed bypass to save existing buildings of influential rich men along the highway. “The change in the alignment would affect about 300 poor families. They would have to give up their houses at Gabgachhi Jadupur area,” he said.

He also claimed that a former NHAI official Mr Srikumar Bhattacharya had demonstrated the proposed alignment for the bypass in an all-political party meeting convened by former Malda district magistrate Mr C R Das in 2008. “No eviction was proposed then. But now we find that alignment has changed,” he alleged.

After receiving the deputation, the ADM Mr K N Dew said: “We have informed the project director of the villagers’ grievance. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh would hold a meeting with the project director on the issue on 8 December and with the villagers and concerned panchayat officials too.”

“We must ask the NHAI authority to show the previous alignment and the present one too. If it has been changed we would seek a clarification,” Mr Dew added.

Meanwhile unauthorised occupants of the area and who are members of the Bhumi Raksha Samiti have started demanding compensation in the lines of Singur. Speaking on the issue Mr Samar Roy of the CPI-M said: “The people want the bypass but they want compensation at the present market rate for their land and houses as well.”