Land cry in Kalimpong .. demand for recording DI Fund and development area land as raiyat instead of basatpraja

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 08 Mar 2019, Darjeeling: A demand for conversion of land from lease to free-hold is gathering steam in Kalimpong town and emerging as a key issue before the Lok Sabha elections.

A similar demand raised by the residents of Mirik, which was subsequently fulfilled by state government. This had, according to many observers, helped TMC win the Mirik civic board from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for the first time in history.

In Kalimpong, an apolitical body christened Joint Action Committee of D.I. Fund and Development Area Land Owners' Association, Kalimpong is now raising the pitch for conversion of basatpraja (lessee) land to raiyat (freehold land).

The civic area, which comprises of around 2100 acres, is largely classified as Darjeeling Improvement (DI) Fund land, Development Area land and Khasmahal land.

The DI Fund was created by the Britishers around 1919 to set up haat (local bazaars) while development land was meant for residential purpose with houses and garden, said a district administration official.

DI Fund and development area land are given on a long term lease to residents. "It is non-transferable and not directly inheritable," the official explained. Lease has to be renewed every 30 years.

Raiyat land on the other hand is transferable and inheritable. "We are requesting the state government to record DI Fund and development area land as raiyat instead of basatpraja," said Sonam Dolma Bhutia, general secretary of the committee.

The committee has already written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee through GTA chief Binay Tamang. "The issue will be resolved soon. I have been given to understand that the land and land reforms department will soon conduct a survey," said Tamang.