A dispute over a resort near Shushunia Hills in Bankura has brought alleged use of forest department land, possible unauthorised liquor sales and the conduct of a local legislator into focus, with the district administration and forest department expected to examine the matter.
According to a report by Anandabazar, Chhatna MLA Satyanarayan Mukhopadhyay visited the Shiblibana village area near the foothills of Shushunia Hills on Monday for official work. While returning through a forested stretch, he noticed a resort and bottles believed to be liquor in the surrounding area, the report said.
The MLA reportedly went to the resort to ask whether the sale of liquor had the necessary permission. A heated exchange followed between him and a woman employee who was on duty at the resort, according to the report. Mukhopadhyay later returned to the property with police personnel and alleged that the resort had been built illegally on forest department land.
During the confrontation, the MLA was reported to have asked a police officer to arrest the woman immediately after she allegedly argued with him. The woman was not arrested. Police subsequently spoke to her separately, the report said. The source report also attributed allegations of misbehaviour towards the MLA to the woman employee.
Mukhopadhyay alleged that the resort is surrounded by forest department land and does not have its own land for access. He further claimed that the resort had not obtained permission from the forest department and that forest land was being used unlawfully to obtain an electricity connection.
The legislator also alleged that liquor was being sold at the resort without the required authorisation. He said the matter had already been brought to the attention of the Bankura district administration and the forest department. According to the report, Mukhopadhyay said the administration would examine all aspects and take necessary action.
The allegations have not been established through an administrative order or enforcement action cited in the report. The available account does not state whether the resort has valid construction, land-use, electricity or liquor-related permissions, or whether any formal case has been registered against its operators.
The report also carried a response from Subrata Daripa, joint convenor of the Bankura Trinamool Congress organisational district. Daripa rejected the allegation that irregularities had been allowed with the support of the ruling party. He questioned why Mukhopadhyay, who has represented the constituency since 2021, had raised the issue only now and why no earlier action had been taken if violations existed.
The next steps lie with the district administration and the forest department, which have been asked to examine the land, access route, electricity connection and liquor-sale allegations. No official findings or enforcement decision were cited in the report at the time of publication.
