Durgapur wetland filled amid allegations of businessman's influence; Land revenue dept halts work

Allegations of illegal land-filling in Durgapur have ignited controversy, with accusations against a local businessman for filling a wetland in the city’s 28th ward. The land, situated near National Highway 19, spans several acres and had once served as a water body but had transformed into a wetland over time. Sources claim that the wetland was being filled with soil, leading to blocked drainage and severe waterlogging in surrounding areas. Local residents have reported water entering their homes and businesses due to the disruption of natural water flow.

The land is part of a debuttar (endowed) property in the Sagarbhanga area, a significant part of Durgapur's rural landscape. A section of the land had developed into a wetland, while other portions were previously used for agriculture and fish farming. For a long time, the area had been left unused, with little activity taking place. However, recently, work began to fill the wetland, allegedly under the direction of a prominent local businessman, Hirannmoy Das. The process reportedly involved the use of JCB machines, which were used to dump soil over several acres of the land.

Residents claim that Hirannmoy Das, a hotel owner in the area, had used his influence to facilitate the illegal land-filling activity. They allege that he was overseeing the operation and that it had been ongoing for several days. However, Das has denied any direct involvement. In a statement, he clarified that the land-filling was done by local farmers to address waterlogging issues, with only a few truckloads of soil being used. He said, "I’m not doing it. They’ve used 2–5 truckloads of soil. I only went there to support them," emphasizing that he was not directly carrying out the work.

Local residents are concerned about the consequences of the wetland filling. They claim that the disruption to the wetland has blocked the natural flow of water, preventing rainwater from draining into the water body. This has led to water accumulating in their homes and local shops, creating a major inconvenience. Several businesses along the nearby road have reported flooding inside their shops due to the blocked drainage. The waterlogging has worsened over time, with standing water causing damage to property and creating unhygienic conditions.

Upon receiving numerous complaints from locals, the Land Revenue Department intervened and took swift action to halt the land-filling activities. According to BLRO Utpal Kumar Saha, the land in question is part of a debuttar property, which has long been a wetland. "This area has been a wetland for many years, and the land had been home to water hyacinths and other aquatic plants," Saha stated. He confirmed that the land had not been used for fish farming, and no legal permit had been issued for the filling of the wetland. The Land Revenue Department immediately stopped the work, and Saha assured that legal action would be taken against those responsible. “We have stopped the work, and legal action will be initiated as per regulations,” he added.