Kolkota’s biggest IT project planned on a 332-acre plot in Rajarhat came to a halt following protests from farmers.

Farmers at Jagadishpur, Rajarhat have protested against giving away their land for the Rs 1,500-crore ($305 million) project blaming the government for giving them less than their due. The farmers claim that the government had bought the land for Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 ($81.4-$102) per cottah, which is 720 square feet, and is now selling it for Rs 100,000 to 200,000 ($2042-$4084).

Forum-ETA, a group of Rahul Saraf's Forum Projects and Dubai-based Emirates Trading Agency, was planning to develop the project. It is now concerned that the project may lose its viability due to the delay. The firm stated that it had submitted the first instalment of Rs 160 crore ($33 million) to the government more than a year back.  It is now worried about a similar fate as that of the Tatas. 

On their part, Forum-ETA said that as part of the arrangement with the government, the group was supposed to return 160 acres of land to the West Bengal electronic industry development corporation limited (Webel) after developing the land. Webel could further offer the land for IT companies at attractive prices.

The villagers complain that the land that the government is planning to acquire is very fertile. They argue that the government could have acquired thousands of acres of barren land elsewhere, instead of this stretch of fertile land. Villagers are adamant that they would not give the land away at any price. X

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