Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government is bringing in an amendment in the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act to stop rampant damage of government property.

Sources in the state secretariat Nabanna indicated on Monday that damage to government property could lead to imprisonment up to a maximum of 7 years. The amended bill will be passed in the next Assembly session to deter vandals, rioters and arsonists.

“The amended bill that is expected to be passed in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly beginning from February 3 will be much more stringent than the existing Act. Apart from a stiff penalty, there will be imprisonment for the offender if proved guilty. We have drafted a bill that provides for making the guilty pay for the damage. The cost will be determined against existing market prices,” a senior official of the state secretariat Nabanna said.

The official added that under the proposed law, the accused will have to prove his innocence. “Even office-bearers of the organisation calling the agitation may be booked for fomenting trouble,” he said.

The central act — the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act — has an imprisonment provision but no compensation clause. The Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act that has penal provisions against offenders doing damage to companies other than public institutions includes the compensation clause. The affected person may claim compensation.

“We are going a step ahead in making the compensation clause more stringent, tying it to market prices. Some bus or train bogey or anything is destroyed at the drop of a hat. If someone has a problem with the police, he may reach out to higher authorities and submit a memorandum. The door for dialogue is open. People shouldn’t take law in their own hands,” a Cabinet minister said.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee at a programme on Red Road on January 27 had announced that the government will come up with a stringent law to curb the practice of damaging public and government property.

The chief minister’s remarks came in the wake of an irate mob setting police vehicles on fire during a protest at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas.

A day after the CM’s speech an irate mob on Saturday attacked the Ausgram police station in Burdwan district, with sticks and brickbatted it causing injury to police personnel and setting its waiting room on fire.