1. ToHon'ble Minister-in-Charge,Department of Panchayats & Rural Development,Government of West Bengal,7 Block, Main Building, 6th to 10th Floors, HC Rd, Sector III, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700106.

2. ToHon'ble Minister-in-Charge,Department of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs,Government of West Bengal,Nagarayan Bhavan, Block-DF-8, Sector-I, Salt Lake City, West Bengal 700064.

Subject: Appeal against the Order No. 1269/DPRDO dated 19.10.2022 issued by District Panchayat Election Officer, North 24 Parganas, Barasat.

 

Respected Sirs,

This is for your kind perusal that we are the undersigned residents of New Town beg to state that it has come to our knowledge from a leading daily “Anandabazar Patrika” dated 25th November, 2022 about the referred Order by virtue of which a major portion of New Town Action Areas I II III are being brought under thejurisdiction of Panchayat and Rural Development Department, West Bengal.We further state that presently the Action Areas of New Town are governed by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority Act 2007 and its executing authorities are providing exceptional facilities to its residents. However, after getting the information regarding the aforesaid Order the residents have genuine apprehension that they will not be getting the same facilities and services as they used to get under the NKDA authorities and henceforth they will come under the purview of a Panchayat Body. As the Panchayat does not have such machinery and manpower to cater the services as providing by the NKDA.Furthermore, the residents of Newtown are till date governed by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority Act, 2007 and pay regular taxes and other charges as per the prescribed fees under the said Act which is much higher to the rates prescribed under the West Bengal Panchayat Act and Rules. Even the rates of Stamp Duty for transfer of property in New Town are equal to the rates of Urban Local Bodies i,e Municipality/Corporation and not to that of Panchayat which is much lesser. Therefore, bringing the New Town under any Panchayat Body may invite litigation for refund of excess taxes and other charges collected by the NKDA.Recently, the Newtown Kolkata Green Smart City Corporation Limited has been constituted to implement the Green City Mission Projects in tandem with the Green City Mission of Government of West Bengal to create Newtown a state-ofthe-art modern city to cater the aspiration of its residents. Newtown has major IT hubs, Financial hubs, 3 SEZs, premier Cancer Treatment Centre in eastern India,recreational zone like Eco Park, Biswa Bangla Gate hanging restaurant and manycultural avenues for the overall wellbeing of its residents.NKDA has been engaged in building markets, solid waste management including segregation of wet and dry waste, maintaining drainage and sewerage system, building new roads along with footpaths, bringing and distributing purified potable water from the River Ganges and many other modern and innovative activities for the residents of Newtown. It will be very inappropriate to bring such a burgeoning futuristic township like Newtown under the purview of a Panchayat Body and as such hampering the growth, development and opportunities of its residents which is against the vision and motto of our progressive State Government. Since Newtown has been acclaimed globally as upcoming modern smart city, it is our humble request to the Hon’ble Ministers to withdraw/rescind the aforesaid Order and to make Newtown as the prestige and pride of the State of West Bengal.

Regards,

Samaresh das