KAMALPUR, Dec 19 (TIWN): Almost faded saga of the visit of Ratan Tata in the state, almost six months’ ago and expressing interest in setting up of some infrastructural and job providing units within the territory keeping in mind the market of neighboring Bangladesh, now resulted in a sudden jolt to the farmers of Kalachari area. The sub-divisional administration suddenly resolved to hand over almost 50 kanis of fertile river-bank land to the TATA group for setting up of a dairy unit there. And in doing so, the administration happily decided to ruin the life and livelihoods of almost thirty farmers who used cultivate crops there. More interestingly, speculations arose as if there remained any hidden story of undue to profits to the family of CPI-M party tycoon according to the long cherished tradition here.

In the recent incident, the sub-divisional administration visited and marked almost 50 kanis of river-bank lands at Kalachari in this sub-division two days ago. In that portion of land almost thirty farmers used to cultivate and maintain their life and livelihood for last two decades. The farmers were informed that, they should not enter that part of land. And they also got informed that, the land got marked for a dairy unit which would be set up by TATA group.

It might be informed that, in that place one farmer Srinibas Das had two kanis of jote land. During last two decades, as the river Dhalai slid westward, large bank arose around his lands. According to the practice, the river-bank lands belonged to the adjacent owner. Hence Srinibas became the owner of 50 kanis of lands. Now, as the area was flood prone, hence Srinibas sought help from some other farmers namely Arun Malakar, Rabi Aditya, Manu Das, and Akhil Das including 30 farmers in total. They erected a dam in front of the river and planted saplings on that dam for protection. Those saplings turned into huge plants in last two decades. They used to earn livelihood by cultivation in that land. This year also they cultivated winter crops in that fertile land. But after the instruction of the administration, they could neither enter into that part of land nor could harvest their crops.

But would TATA really set up a dairy unit there, remained the question. Moreover, as remained the tradition there, the family of the present party tycoon, often manipulated the administration using the lands and properties both jote and khans, for different schemes to gobble government money. Almost a decade ago, the family manipulated a dairy scheme getting sanction by marking their cows with battery-waste and convincing the bank authority by declaring those cows as of some foreign breed. This time did the family planned something like this or not remained under speculations. Further, the authenticity of TATA’s setting up unit also remained under scanner here. But most importantly, how the administration could incur loss to thirty farmers and made their livelihood under big jolt and it’s too in the reign of a poor-friendly rule remained under question.