Possession of land eludes Jadavpur Cooperative residents even after 3 months

Kolkata: The Jadavpur Cooperative Land and Housing Society is allegedly depriving many of its elderly members by not giving possession of land, for which the latter had given money more than three decades ago.

The members of the cooperatives, who have been deprived of their rights, are running from pillar to post for justice and waiting for the day when they will get the plot for which they had once invested their life savings.

Recently in February, a complaint has also been lodged with East Jadavpur police station in this connection.

The cooperative had come into existence in 1965 and there were a total of 543 plots in the Nayabad and Mukundapur areas, that had to be distributed among the members in two phases. It has been alleged against a section of board members that the master plan approved by the Cooperation Directorate was changed and somehow, 70 extra plots were allegedly shown in it. Later, the plots earmarked to develop common amenities like schools, parks, etc. were also being sold out.

The elderly people, who gave money three decades ago with a hope of getting a piece of land to build their own house, are yet to get the same. It is being alleged that they hardly get any satisfactory answer whenever they approach the concerned authorities of the cooperative, seeking explanation for the delay in giving possession of the plots.

In has been learnt that members of the cooperative including Pratibha Nandy and Gopal Nandy, who are yet to get land, want to get respite from the situation. But they are still in the dark regarding how many years it would take for the same.

Allegation has cropped up against one Kumar Kartik Dey, who had been secretary of the cooperative for a long time. He has now been replaced by his brother-in-law Sanjay Nandy, who allegedly works following the directions of Dey. The Court has also appointed a special officer to conduct election of the cooperative.

When contacted, the present secretary of the corporation has brushed aside the allegations, but failed to say by what time he can manage to give possession of plot to Pratibha Nandy.

He put forward construction of roads and drainage system on some plots as the main reason behind the delay.

He said that the cooperative is also giving compensation or alternate land to those who are yet to get possession of the plot which was allotted to them. However, he could not give any assurance on the time by when the alternate piece of land can be given.