West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today assured troubled Bhangor residents that construction of the proposed powergrid substation would only help in the development of the area and would not affect child birth and agriculture.
"Setting up of a powergrid sub-station never affects child birth or agriculture of an area. This is an absolute false propaganda spread by outsiders mainly land-sharks and promoters who are trying to befool the simple people in the area," Banerjee said here today.
The chief minister was inaugurating a cluster of projects, laying of foundation stones and providing services at Bhojerhat here in the South 24-Parganas district today.
Alleging a few promoters and real estate developers eying land in Bhangor and spreading such false rumours, Banerjee asked the locals not to listen to unknown outsiders and allow them enter and stay in the area as they were "Maoists" collecting funds.
"There are real estate developers and promoters who are spreading these rumours. So I will ask the people not to listen to them and trust them. They are trying to cheat the simple people here. They are trying to destroy your future.
"And I will advise you all not to allow outsiders enter your area. These are Maoists who are collecting money and one day they will escape. So locals must stop interacting with them because that will only harm your future," she said.
She also asked the outsiders staying inside Bhangor "to surrender immediately with their arms and bombs".
The state government was open for "talks" with the villagers of Bhangor and clear all form of confusions regarding the setting up of the powergrid there, she said.
In January, one person was killed in crossfire between groups of outsiders and villagers, while opposing construction of a power grid sub-station in Bhangor area of South 24 Parganas district.
The Mamata Banerjee government had provided a compensation around Rs two lakh to the family.
Following the protests of the villagers in the area, the state government had halted the project.
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