WB govt orders probe into land acquisition at Rajarhat

Kolkata, Aug 19: Fulfilling an election pledge, the West Bengal government has ordered an investigation into the acquisition land for housing at Rajarhat, on the outskirts of the metropolis.

The probe would determine the quantity of land acquired at Rajarhat and the financial irregularities committed, Industry and Commerce minister Partha Chatterjee told the state assembly today.

The Trinamool Congress during its days as an opposition party had alleged that land at Rajarhat was acquired for a pittance from farmers and sold at a premium and had promised to order a probe if it came to power in the state.

The inquiry would reveal who got how much of land from nodal authority HIDCO there, he said. The minister welcomed WIPRO and Infosys, if the IT majors were willing to abide by land policy of the state government.

To a supplementary, Chatterjee said that of 187 acre in Sector-V at Salt Lake, work on IT was on in 85 acre only.

PTI