Bhangar residents ready for discussions with state

The residents of Bhangar wrote to the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas stating that they are ready for a discussion with the state government in connection with the setting up of the power grid substation.

Residents of villages including Machibhanga, Khamarait and Padmapukur protested against the setting up of the power grid substation on a plot of 16 acres when the project was nearing completion. The unrest over the issue claimed two lives.

According to a senior official, the letter sent to the District Magistrate indicates that a section of the villagers are still willing to allow setting up of the power grid substation.

In the letter they have clearly mentioned that they want to sit for a discussion. According to the villagers, the district of South 24 Parganas, PB Salim, contacted them stating that the decision on their request for a meeting to discuss the issue will be taken on Monday. The villagers are now waiting for the reply of the district administration as they are anxious to know that they would get opportunity to discuss with which level of officers.

It is learnt that they have expressed their grievances about two leaders of a political party in the letter and they would like to discuss the matter with the district administration.

According to the villagers they would put forward the issues that had forced them to initiate agitation against the setting up of the power grid substation. The meeting would also give them an opportunity to clarify their wrong conceptions about the ill effects of existence of a power grid substation in an area. The area still bores a deserted look after the sunset. Traders close their shops soon after the sunset and people also apprehend to move out of their house apprehending some fresh trouble.

An official said it seems that the stalemate over setting up of the substation would come to an end after the meeting and people of Bhangar would start living a normal life.

It may be mentioned that the state Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay went to Bhangar on the first day when the villagers had started agitating. He had assured them all sort of support for their co-operation to let completion of the power grid substation.