“The state government is gambling on land as they are buying land at a lower price and selling it at a much higher price. For example at Rajarhat, the HIDCO bought land at one price and gave it to the ITC and LIC at a much higher price. This is unfortunate. I will raise the issue in party forums,” Chakraborty said at his office at Writers’ Buildings.

“If the price of land, oil, etc. increases, it will ultimately lead to inflation,” he added.

On a question over the Trinamool Congress’ recent victory in the panchayat polls at Singur, the minister alleged that before the polls Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had promised people to return the land to unwilling farmers at Singur.

“No democratic movement can go on like this. How can you relocate the factory now? The cheques of farmers who did not receive them are still pending with the government and they can easily collect them,” the minister said.

He also announced that on June 5, which has been declared World Environment Day by the UNO, all vehicles in the state will be asked not to use horns for one hour, from 11 am to 12 pm.