Siliguri mayor Asok Bhatttacharya has asked the Commissioner of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), Sonam Wangdi, to issue a notice to the SMC executive engineer, asking him to inquire about constructions on government land in SMC areas.

The mayor said he wants to know if such plots of land have been encroached upon and if the constructions have come up illegally. The move follows a protest march on Monday led by Trinamul Congress (TMC) leader of Ward No 46 of the SMC, Dilip Barman, against encroachment of government land.

Mr Barman demanded stern action to be taken against those involved in occupying government land illegally. Mayor Bhattacharya, meanwhile, alleged that such encroachment of government land was done with help from the ruling party, the Trinamul Congress.

“We came to know some time ago through the media that such plots of land were encroached upon by the ruling party. However, the commissioner will issue an order, after which the chief engineer of the SMC will mark those land falling under the SMC jurisdiction. Action will be taken against those who have illegally encroached on government property,” Mr Bhattacharya said.

The Mayor, meanwhile, said the SMC will act tough against people who accumulate building materials on roads, resulting in the roads getting narrower, throwing of waste in high drains, leading to the drains clogging, and household waste disposal in drains.

“The building inspector and work assistant will be deputed to mark buildings that have blocked roads by dumping construction materials on the roads,” Mr Bhattacharya said, adding that people doing so will be fined Rs 500 (on the spot), while they may also be jailed for three months.

Mr Barman, meanwhile, demanded stern action against those occupying government land. “The government should take control of its plots and take stringent action against those involved in occupying them. If necessary steps are not taken, we will be compelled to go on a hunger strike,” he said.

According to sources, constructions are coming up on around 32 acres of government land in Ward-46 for the past three months. The locals have alleged TMC involvement in the same.