BGPM fights fear of hill people on land right for five decimals

EOI, DARJEELING, SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 In a bid to calm fears amid growing speculation among the hill people about the decision of the West Bengal Bengal to hand out land right for five decimal of owned land, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha on Sunday organized a public meeting in Darjeeling town. 

The opposition political parties are opposed to distribution of land right for only five decimal of land and have upped the ante on the BGPM and the West Bengal government, asserting it was a conspiracy to usurp the remaining land owned by the tea garden dwellers. 

However, the BGPM which had worked extensively on the land right issue as one of its election agendas and got the West Bengal government to give its nod, maintained that people need not worry and should not hesitate to take advantage of the scheme. BGPM, Darjeeling subdivision president, Alok Kant Mani Thulung said the opposition was trying to play politics on the issue by spreading rumour and fears among the public. 

"I belong to the tea garden area. I have land but no documentation. I feel we should avail the state government scheme that provides land ownership rights," he said. Thulung said the state government was not forcing people to accept the 'parcha patta' (land right). 

"It is for people to accept it. We have been demanding for land right since ages. Now we have the chance. Many people did not even have three decimal of land. Therefore it makes sense to accept the scheme of the state government," he said. 

Apprehension is on a high among people who fear their land (more then five decimal) in possession would be resumed by the government and given to the tea garden owners. "The state government has clearly said it was giving land right for five decimal of land as homestead patta. 

The state government will not resume the remaining land possessed by the owner," said Thulung. The Darjeeling district administration had also issued a statement a few days ago, allying any fears of the state government taking away extra land of the people. 

Vikram Adi Rai, senior member of the Gorkha Seva Sena, said the state government must come out with an official notification; instead of the District Magistrate giving a statement like a political leader. 

"Everything has to be on paper. Just words are not enough as it needs to be backed by official documents. We should not even take the words of the Chief Minister, if not given on paper. 

We have been given verbal promises that are yet to materialize after all these years," he said