A delegation of political parties, people’s outfits and intellectuals from Calcutta will meet Birbhum district magistrate on January 6 asking forcible acquisition of land for the proposed Deocha-Pachami coal mine project be stopped.

“Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said Deocha-Pachami would not be another Singur. But the coercive manner in which land is being acquired is completely flawed and illegal. If forceful acquisition of land is continued, Deocha-Pachami will be another Singur,” said economist-political activist Prosenjit Bose in Calcutta on Monday.

Bose added their opposition to the project was based on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. “It is being flouted for the project in Birbhum,” he said.

They will also ask government officials to protect the right of land, life and livelihood of people, especially of the ST, SC and minorities.

Following a spate of protests against the project, the government had taken a nod from around 150 people who were willing to give their land for the proposed coal mine.

“The government can’t take such a written nod to get their land for people there as it is not legal. The Birbhum district administration is now putting pressure on local people in order to give consent for their project. Democratic rights of the local people, especially those in opposition to the project, are being curtailed with the police unleashing repressive actions,” said Bose.