The Mamata Banerjee government’s initiative to record the land parcels of more than 100 haats (marketplaces in the districts) — spread over 120 acres of land collectively — in its name has hit a legal hurdle.

The recent initiative by the Bengal government is being largely seen as a larger attempt of the government to reclaim government properties from people enjoying benefits of the properties for generations without paying taxes to the government.

However, reclaiming these plots is not an easy task as many settlers have moved court to challenge the state.

Sources in the land and land reforms department said the state government had taken initiative to record the land parcels on which the haats were being operated by private individuals as these belong to the state government according to the provisions of West Bengal Estate Acquisition Act, 1955.

The Act that was introduced about 70 years ago had vested all such haats with
the government.

However, as the records were not corrected properly, some haats continued to figure in the land records as private properties.

“Now, recording these land parcels in favour of the government is easier said than done,” said a senior government official.

Sources in the land and land reforms department said that getting control over these plots was not an easy task for the government, as many bureaucrats are finding
out first-hand.

First, convincing the owners that they were enjoying government land is not proving to be an easy matter as people enjoying these plots over the past few generations do not want to part with the land.

Second, many of them have moved courts, challenging the state government’s decision. The legal battle is getting tough for the government as it would be difficult to get papers related to these plots.

Third, out-of-court settlements are also not possible as the state cannot acquire its own land for the second time.

“Implementing the decision appears to be a humongous work as these plots are prime plots. Those enjoying the land parcels will not leave it easily,” said a senior bureaucrat.

According to records of the land and land reforms department, the majority of these haats are located in prime areas of Bankura, Burdwan, Chinsurah, Malda
and Midnapore.

Not just recording the haats in the favour of the government, Nabanna has also initiated a process to find out the reasons why the haats could not be recorded in the name of the government in the past 70 years.

“It was identified that the lackadaisical attitude of the officials not only in the Left Front tenure but also that during the Congress era left the haats unattended to and the land continued to be private properties. It was during the Trinamool Congress tenure that the initiative started,” said an official.

Sources said that this initiative has hit a roadblock at a time when the cash-strapped state government was trying to sell out or lease out unused land in its possession to generate more revenue.

“These plots are lucrative as they are located in prime locations.... The Bengal government is desperate to generate more revenue to shoulder the burden of several welfare schemes in absence of central funds,” said a source.

For starters, the state government would have to spend nearly ₹7,000 crore as it has planned to give the first installment of ₹60,000 to each of the 11.36 lakh beneficiaries to set up their homes in the rural areas in December this year.

“These beneficiaries were supposed to get the funds two years ago. But as the Centre stopped the release of funds under the PM Awas Yojana, the state has decided to give them the funds to construct their homes. Given the struggling state coffers, the state does require additional funds to shoulder the burden,” said a bureaucrat.