Kolkata: TMC government clears land allotment for Jyoti Basu centre

KOLKATA: The state is set to allot a five-acre plot in New Town for a research centre in memory of former chief minister and CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu, raising eyebrows in political circles as many see the government decision as Mamata Banerjee’s bid to reach out to the Left and secular forces. Papers for the land allocation were ready during the Left Front regime in 2010, but the deal got stuck in 2011 when Trinamool came to power.
Sources in the state secretariat said the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) was instructed to bring out the old files and give sanction to the plot. “The proposal will be placed before the state cabinet and the allotment letter will be issued once it is formally approved,” said an official.
Located in the central business district, the centre will be built beside the upcoming High Court complex.
According to officials, the Left front government had sanctioned a five-acre plot to a trust for setting up a centre where people would get a glimpse of different items used by Basu and have a library to conduct research. There were plans to have an auditorium and hold workshops and seminars as well.
The trust paid about Rs 5 crore to the government and an allotment letter was issued. However, the process to hand over the plot got stuck in 2011.
The CPM state committee had then sought the plot from the Mamata Banerjee government, but no initiative was taken to proceed with the proposal. “The land which they were holding back was sanctioned and the money was paid during the Left Front government’s time,” said CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty.