'The urban land distribution committee of SMC will hold separate meetings with the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri on February 8 to discuss the issue. We want to distribute land rights to around 10,000 families (who live in slums) during the next three months,' the mayor said
Sources said the SMC had served notices on the owners of 88 such buildings and demolished 12 illegal structures so far after the owners concerned had failed to remove them
According to a gazette notification issued by the Centre in September 2020, areas which come within 5km of a reserve forest are considered eco-sensitive zones with curbs on construction work in the areas