KOLKATA: A little over a decade ago, a large expanse of wetlands lay alongside the Bali-Chamrail Road west of Jaypur crossing in Howrah district. Now, this stretch of land is unrecognisable, as the wetlands are slowly disappearing to make way for urban construction.Four canals - Hurhura, Sheb, Suti and Shaorapota - flowed into the wetlands and played a key role in the creation of the vital Howrah-Hooghly drainage system.The wetlands also provided rich croplands. Local shopkeeper Subal Mistry said, "The land was 12 feet under the National Highway. So the water was there almost throughout the year. Farmers got the crop twice in a year."But over the years, corporate construction companies bought all the lands from farmers. There are numerous construction and development projects going on. The fallout of this is that all four canals are now lost and the wetlands have all but vanished. TMC leader Tapan Dutta tried to save this 950 acre wetland. He went to land revenue office, District Magistrate's office and Panchayet office to register his appeal to protect this land. But all his efforts went in vain. In 2011, Dutta was murdered. The accused were acquitted by the lower court.Last week, the Kolkata High Court rejected the lower court's verdict.Pratima Dutta, wife of Tapan Dutta, is disappointed as her husband's dream remains unfulfilled. She's too is waging a war against the land mafia, and contested the assembly polls as an independent candidate. However, she lost to irrigation minister Rajib Banerjee, who won with a huge margin of votes in the constituency.Inspite of these setbacks, Pratima has not lost hope and said she will continue her husband's fight to save the wetlands.

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