Construction of a hatchery at Raninagar industrial growth centre on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town came to a halt on Tuesday because of alleged infighting among two Trinamul lobbies over supply of materials and workforce.

The firm tasked with construction has threatened to withdraw. Police intervention has not improved the situation.

Sources said 2.93 acres were given to Indian Broiler Group, a Chhattisgarh-based group, by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation at Raninagar for a hatchery. It assigned the construction to Anandghan Group, also from Chhattisgarh. Anandghan Group reportedly assigned some work, including supply of materials, to youths associated with a lobby of Trinamul headed by Krishna Das, the Jalpaiguri district chairman of the Trinamul SC and ST cell.

Trouble started on Sunday when these youths started dumping materials at the site. Others from the lobby of Khageswar Roy, Trinamul MLA of Rajganj under which Raninagar is located, allegedly stopped them.

Police had to control the situation.By Tuesday, work stopped completely.

“We were asked to supply construction materials and labour for the project. But Atul Sarkar (former district Trinamul president and Roy’s aide) and some others threatened us to stop,” alleged Manik Roy, an aide of Das and a representative of Trinamul Industrial Estate Workers’ Union at Raninagar. “We informed the police and WBIDC.”

Sarkar alleged those associated with Das were involved in the project in a biased way and many local suppliers and contractors were kept out. “We will not allow it,” he said.

Calls to Das went unanswered.

According to sources, over Rs 3 crore is supposed to be invested at the project that will generate around 300 jobs.

Representatives of Ananghan Group expressed concern. “We are under pressure as both the groups are determined to stop each other. If such a situation persists, we will be forced to stop the project,” said Sunil Agarwal, a representative of the construction group.

WBIDC officials said police and the administration should look into it.

Trinamul supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly warned her party workers against feuds. “It seems these leaders haven’t realised the importance of her message. They just want contracts to make money, but this affects the state’s image,” said a Trinamul leader.