Survey starts in Bagdogra for patta for DI Fund land

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, DARJEELING, SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 : After the nod of the West Bengal Cabinet for settlement of land pattas for Darjeeling Improvement Fund land, survey has started in Bagdogra. 

There are thousands of people residing on DI Fund land in Bagdogra without the possession of patta. Hundreds of people have already occupied the land and built huts at the Bagdogra weekly market area. DI Fund Land is unique to the Darjeeling and Kalimpong district areas, an arrangement continuing since the British period. 

The plots had been leased out to set up ‘haats’ and for residential purposes.There are many mouzas in these two districts along with markets under the DI Fund. There is a long-standing demand for the abolition of the DI Fund system and bringing the land under the Land Reforms Department of the State Government. The residents on DI Fund land had been residing as tenants under the Non- Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1949. 

A few weeks ago, the State Government had stated that under the present laws pattas would be handed out for these homestead land. Chairman Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad Arun Ghosh said on Monday: 

“People have been staying since decades and built these huts during the tenure of the Left Front, but now since the times have changed and people opt to stay in modern houses, under the initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pattas will be issued to the beneficiaries after survey.” Ghosh was present during the survey.