The Union government has informed Parliament that 170.4 acres of land owned by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) in Kolkata is under illegal encroachment. Responding to a query from BJP Rajya Sabha MP and West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that 706 encroachers are currently occupying land belonging to the Kolkata Dock System of SMP, causing financial losses to the port.
Bhattacharya later alleged that the encroachments persist due to the state administration’s non-cooperation. He had sought details of the port’s land usage, encroached areas, and annual revenue.
Sonowal stated that SMP has 421 acres within the ‘custom bound area’ and 4,122 acres outside it, with the encroached 170.4 acres falling in the latter category. Over the last five years, the port has generated ₹2,994.54 crore in revenue.
SMP Kolkata is pursuing strategic initiatives to boost land monetisation, including developing warehouses, ship repair facilities, and riverside projects. According to the Ministry, clearing the encroached land could generate up to ₹1,000 crore annually while spurring trade, industry, and employment.
