Deb seeks land back from companies

May 29: The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority today said it would take back land from three private companies as they had done nothing on their plans to build real estate and tech hubs, though the land was leased out to them between 2007 and 2010. One of the companies, Infinity, told Metro today that it had encountered land and encroachments problems while trying to make an IT hub on the outskirts of Siliguri. In the recent past, several private companies in Calcutta and on its outskirts have refused to continue projects with the state government citing similar charges of encroachment on project land and blamed the state for not doing enough to move encroachers. Ravindra Chamaria, chairman and managing director of Infinity, said the company wrote to the SJDA last week saying “we are no longer interested and wanted the money to be refunded”. Today, north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, who is also the chairman of the SJDA, said: “We are not in favour of keeping these plots idle. First, the companies’ stands on the projects have been sought through communication and then, we have taken the decision to take back the land.” SJDA sources said three plots at three different spots on the outskirts of Siliguri town were leased out to the companies — Bengal Unitech Universal, Videocon and Infinity Infotech Parks Limited — during the Left regime when CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya was the SJDA chairman. According to the sources, Unitech was supposed to construct a township on 92 acres at Kawakhali. Videocon was to make an electronics hub on 25 acres in Fulbari, and Infinity an IT SEZ at Matigara on 17 acres. Today Deb said: “During the Left Front rule, the SJDA had handed over the land to Bengal Unitech Universal, Videocon and Infinity Infotech Parks Limited for different projects. None of these companies has gone ahead with their projects and, in fact, representatives of two firms — Bengal Unitech Universal and Infinity Infotech — have informed us that they are no longer interested in executing the proposed projects.” He added that the SJDA would also write to Videocon to find out if the company wants to go ahead with the project. The minister said global tenders would be floated to offer the three plots to private investors. “It is always better that the land is put to proper use,” Deb said. “I have assumed the office as SJDA chairman on the instruction of the chief minister. During my short tenure of two months, I found that it is illogical to let these companies retain the plots as they are not implementing their projects. The takeover of the land will send a positive message to the business and industrial sector that we are keen on industrial and infrastructure development and won’t let any investor keep the land unused for a long period,” he said. Infinity’s Chamaria said his company bagged a tender five-six years back to develop the IT park in Siliguri. “We did a part payment of Rs 5-6 crore as was required and we needed 25 acres to set up the SEZ project. But the authorities concerned did not have enough land. They were not being able to give us a consolidated plot as was required and the size of the land was a little less. There were encroachments too. We were always interested in the project but nothing happened.” He said the company had sent a letter to the SJDA last week saying it was no longer interested in the project and wanted the money to be refunded. “The government is also against SEZs. We are willing to consider the project only if they can sort out the issues,” Chamaria added. When Metro sought Videocon’s reaction, Gautam Sengupta, who heads the eastern region of the company, said Videocon was confident of making the electronic and biotech park on the 25-acre land. Sengupta said the matter was being discussed at a very high level. “We are positive about the outcome,” he said. Unitech said it could not comment on the development ahead of its annual result tomorrow. In Calcutta, the fate of several big projects is uncertain as private companies which have been contracted for the projects have said they want to pull out because of the state’s indifference to tackle encroachments. Afcons, the infrastructure arm of Shapoorji Pallonji, has sought Rs 257 crore in compensation from the railways for not being able to start work on the Central station-Howrah Maidan for the East-West Metro link in three years. While the project is now with the railways, there is a question of handing over of land involving the state government that has got delayed for years. Construction company Gammon India has pulled out of a stretch of the East-West Metro in Salt Lake after waiting for our years for land. Infrastructure giant Larsen and Toubro has withdrawn its “men and machinery” from a Metro Railway project in the northern suburbs of Calcutta because the state government has been unable to persuade squatters on a 5km stretch of railway land to leave. Parkomat The SJDA board today also decided to develop three parkomats or multi-storied parking spaces in Siliguri. “Nowadays, parking is the principal problem of Siliguri. So, we have decided to build three parkomats at prime locations in the town,” Deb said. The parking spaces, a longstanding demand of the citizens, would come up at the Kanchenjungha Stadium mela ground, near Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus and at the Old Dooars Bus Stand at Bidhan Road,” said the minister.