Syndicate's open defiance

TT, 4 December 2018, Siliguri: Representatives of a syndicate ­ a ruling party backed cartel of youths supplying construction materials ­openly said here on Monday that they would continue with their activities to offer "livelihood" to local youths, the assertion made it clear that syndicates are here to stay despite Mamata Banerjee's repeated sermons to her party members to steer clear of such activities.

Their assertions came up in an interaction that these representatives had with newspersons in Siliguri on Monday afternoon. Earlier, they had mentioned that they feel the need to clarify their stand and their activities, following the accusations made at them by a private investor on last week.

"By calling themselves members of a welfare organisation at the Food Park in Phansidewa, representatives tried to justify their activities of forcing investors at the park to buy construction materials from them. This is unheard of," said a senior Trinamul leader based in Siliguri.

According to him, he had expected that better senses would prevail as the matter of coercion by syndicates has reached to the district police, to the authorities of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority. Also, a complaint has been even sent to the chief minister's office by North Bengal Industries' Association, a trade body based in the city.

"It is surprising than even then, these people are so daring that they said in open that they would continue with the activities," said a representative of the trade body.

The phenomenon of syndicates is not new in Bengal. During the Left rule, former housing minister Goutam Deb had brought unemployed youths in Rajarhat ­ where land was acquired for the township ­ and gave them the opportunity to supply construction materials to project sites.

Over the years, the syndicates became the biggest problems facing the realty sector or any new construction as the syndicates started supplying inferior materials at a premium. There have been instances of excesses by syndicates from different parts of the state during the Trinamul regime.

Mamata has on several occasions told her party members not to be part of any syndicate.

The representatives, who introduced themselves as members of the Rahmu Md.

The food park at Phansidewa Box Food Park Materials Suppliers Welfare Association, the same association that was accused of preventing a private entrepreneur from commencing construction of a factory at the Food Park that is located around 15 kilometres from here on last week because he denied buying construction materials from them as the syndicate quoted him rates which are around 40 per cent above the prices quoted by other suppliers.

This made the association members assert that they would not allow entry of any vehicle carrying construction materials provided by any other supplier, to the entrepreneur's site.

On Monday, while speaking at the news conference, the syndicate representatives mentioned that they have provided land to SJDA for construction of the Food Park with a hope that it would cre- ate employment for locals. "Only three units are oper- ational at the park now. That is why we have started supplying materials for any construction that is carried out at the park as it would help us in making some earnings. There is no reason as why an investor will not buy the materials from us. We do not charge higher rates," said Ratan Adhikary, a member of the association.

The syndicate that is also accused of taking fifty rupees from each vehicle that enters the park as parking fee collects the money for "social works," said another member of the association.

"We have made arrangements for drinking water for the drivers and every year, we carry out social works like distribution of winter clothes, blankets and books among locals. The money collected is spent for this purpose," said Atul Singha, another member.

Both Adhikary and Singha admitted that they have received compensation for their land and that they are not authorised to collect parking fee at the park that is owned by Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.

Such blatant assertions by the syndicate representatives have left Trinamul leaders of Phansidewa block in an awkward position.