Siliguri BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh has accused the Jalpaiguri district administration and the district land and land reforms department of “half-hearted” efforts in demolishing private properties, including resorts, that have come up on state government land in some blocks, especially Rajganj.

Ghosh, who visited the office of the district land and land reforms officer here on Friday, said: “The department, along with the administration, has launched a drive to vacate government land by clearing encroachments and structures. However, what we are witnessing is only a half-hearted effort as only boundary walls and some minor structures are being demolished during the drive and not the entire property.”

At an administrative meeting last month, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed her displeasure over the highhandedness of land mafias in Dabgram-Fulbari on the outskirts of Siliguri and in Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri.

Based on her instruction, police arrested two office-bearers of Trinamool Congress in Dabgram-Fulbari who were later expelled from the party. The administration also identified several plots owned by Trinamool leaders, including councillors and former councillors of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, at Gajoldoba.

On Thursday, The Telegraph had reported about the drive wherein parts of around 30-odd private properties were demolished in three blocks of the district.

The Siliguri MLA, who went to the district land and land reforms office to know how much government land had been recovered during the past few weeks, questioned the drive. “We feel it is hogwash and attempts are being made to save the TMC leaders and the land on which they have encroached. The land and land reforms department should come up with a white paper with detailed information about the land they have recovered,” said Ghosh.

The MLA said district land and land reforms officer Priyadarshini Bhattacharya didn’t meet him.

Bhattacharya denied the charge and said she was away from office. “He (Ghosh) came to my office without prior intimation. As I was away, he was asked to wait but he left. I have no inkling about the purpose of his visit,” she said.