The Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) has taken a stern stance to recover the illegally occupied lands and footpaths across the city areas, said Mayor Deepak Majumder on Friday.
 

Addressing a press conference, the Mayor said, “As part of the beautification work of Agartala city, we are now on a move to recover all the illegally acquired lands and open those for employment-generating opportunities and giving a boost to the economy of the state.”

 

Earlier, a structure built on an illegally occupied land near Jackson Gate in Agartala was bulldozed by the Task Force of Agartala Municipal Corporation on Friday morning.

 

The land measured about 7000 sq. meters was illegally occupied by disgruntled MLA Ashis Saha, Trinamool leader Subal Bhowmik and other partners years ago.

 

The building was first named Indira Bhavan then Trinamool Bhavan and then as employees’ federation office. The employees’ federation office was shifted to this building in the year 2017.

 

The previous Left Front government had taken steps to take down the building several times but it was not possible following strong resistance.

 

On Friday morning, the AMC task force along with a huge deployment of security personnel reached the spot and removed the structure. According to official sources, a prior notice was served from the Agartala Municipal Corporation.

 

Later AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder addressed a press conference on the issue. He said the land (measured about 7000 sq. meters) was illegally occupied by MLA Ashis Saha, Trinamool leader Subal Bhowmik and other partners for long years.

 

“Now, the AMC has decided to evacuate the illegally occupied land and utilize it for development projects. As per the decision, the newly-elected body has completed the task which the previous government couldn’t do during its 25 years tenure,” the Mayor told the media.

 

The AMC took down the building within the boundary of law. They were given sufficient time; there was no objection, said Majumder. He also pointed out that there was no political intention behind the move.

 

“They moved the High Court of Tripura on the issue but they couldn’t produce any document in support of their claim on proprietorship of the land. However, they withdrew the petition,” the Mayor said, adding that Subal Bhowmik and others had illegally used the land.

The Mayor said we are also on a move to free the illegally occupied footpaths in the city areas and ease the congestion in city roads.  

 

Moreover, he said, “It has also come to the notice of AMC that some flats and houses in the city areas are being constructed illegally without abiding by the guidelines of the AMC. In this case, also we shall take stern action.”

Commenting on the beautification drive, Mayor Deepak Majumder said AMC will install a lighting system in and around the ponds existing in the city and other areas and this work will begin soon.

He said, “The AMC is committed to ensuring proper facilities and ease the people of the city and urban bodies of the state. For this, we want cooperation from the general public while we work for the development of the state as a whole.”