Baranagar has brought attention to what locals describe as a blatant encroachment of government-owned land and the destruction of vital green cover.
Residents, supported by environmental groups and local elected representatives, are demanding immediate action against what they allege is an illegal nexus of land grabbers, builders, and contractors operating near the RIC Gate numbers 1 and 2, close to Brahmananda Keshab Chandra College.According to protestors, more than 50 mature trees—comprising species such as mahogany, segun, shawl, and banyan—have been felled in recent weeks. The tree cover, which served as a crucial buffer against rising urban temperatures and pollution, has been razed, allegedly to clear the way for unauthorised commercial construction on central government land.
Community members claim the land, spanning around 80 bighas, has been under legal dispute since 2006. A standing court order reportedly prohibits any development on the site. However, construction continues, fuelled by forged documentation and administrative neglect, allege locals.A ward councillor from Baranagar Municipality expressed concern over the encroachment, stating that despite legal restrictions, unauthorised construction is underway. “We have informed the police and urged them to intervene, but no effective action has been taken. Fake documents are being used to legitimise the illegal work. This is nothing short of land-grabbing,” the councillor said.
The issue has also drawn the attention of the local MLA, who visited the site and urged the district administration to take swift action. “This is not just about land—it’s about our environment and the rule of law. The site remains unguarded, and this is being misused by a group of opportunistic actors who are taking advantage of the ongoing court case,” said the MLA.Despite repeated complaints to the municipal and police authorities, residents say there has been no halt to the deforestation or construction activities. Local citizen Sudhamoy Ganguly, who has been part of the movement, expressed frustration at the lack of official response. “We were left with no other option but to organise and protest. If the authorities won’t protect our environment, we will,” he said.
Environmentalists have also stepped in, warning that unchecked tree-felling in the middle of an intense summer could have disastrous consequences for local biodiversity and urban climate resilience. Arup Saha, secretary of the Basundhara Environmental Society, emphasised that the loss of tree cover is contributing to Baranagar’s rising heat and declining air quality. “These are not just trees—they are natural air-conditioners and lungs of the city. Their removal must be stopped immediately,” he said.The police, when contacted, confirmed their awareness of the situation. A senior officer from Barrackpore Commissionerate said that while they have visited the site several times, legal constraints limit their ability to intervene without specific court directives or formal complaints from competent authorities.
The protests have now begun to draw wider public attention, with more residents and civic groups joining efforts to protect Baranagar’s green spaces and reclaim land that they say rightfully belongs to the public. At the heart of the matter lies a pressing question of governance: will the authorities act to uphold the law and protect urban ecology, or will yet another green patch be sacrificed to unchecked urban sprawl?
As the situation unfolds, residents remain resolute, demanding not just the cessation of illegal activity but long-term safeguards to prevent future encroachments in one of Kolkata’s increasingly vulnerable urban zones.
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