Jewellers demand 'immediate compensation'

Kolkata: The Swarna Shilpa Bachao Committee (SSBC) on Wednesday demanded immediate compensation for the jewellery manufacturing units that have been damaged in and around Bowbazar due to the East-West Metro project.

"We want compensation for the huge amounts of finished jewellery and raw materials that are still under the debris. In this connection, the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRCL) has called us for a meeting at the control room at Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration on Wednesday night. We will discuss with the KMRCL officials about the fate of the artisans and workshops that have been affected by the East-West Metro construction work," said Samar Kumar De, SSBC working president.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, KMRCL and Kolkata Police have formed a control room at Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration on BB Ganguly Street. For any assistance, the residents can directly go there or call 9432610472. "There are 40 people who work at our jewellery manufacturing unit situated at 12, Syakra Para Lane. There are gold ornaments and other important documents inside it. We are unable to take them out because the door has gone under the debris. We are suffering huge losses due to this. At present, we have shifted to 184/1, BB Ganguly Street," said Vijay Suryavanshi of Vijay Assay Centre Private Limited.

Several houses at Durga Pituri Lane and Syakra Para Lane have partially or wholly collapsed. On the other hand, the KMRCL has already initiated the work to pull down five buildings at Durga Pituri Lane which have been badly damaged due to the tunneling work of the East-West Metro on Monday. According to the SSBC, a list containing the quantity of raw materials and finished products stuck in these workshops will be prepared. It will be presented to the KMRCL in order to facilitate proper compensation.