KMC to break open locked houses to clear garbage

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will break open the locks of houses to clear garbage as part of the anti-larvae drive, Atin Ghosh, Member, Mayor-in-Council (Health) said on Thursday.

Ghosh said many owners have put their houses under lock and key and were staying outside temporarily. In such cases, the civic workers will break the lock of the house in presence of officers of the local police station and remove the garbage or clear the drains, along with examining the overhead tanks and underground reservoirs.

The cleaning operation will be videotaped and KMC will put a new lock and the keys will be kept with the local police station. The owner will be informed and will be charged later. KMC may add the charge with the property tax or may request the owner to pay the amount when he will be visiting the KMC office to pay house tax.

Ghosh said such buildings pose a serious threat to the anti-larvae drive. As the buildings are locked, the garbage in them gets piled up. The drains get clogged and rain water accumulates on the roof. These areas serve as the ideal breeding ground for the dengue and malaria causing mosquitoes.

He said that in some places, the owners are not allowing the civic workers to inspect their buildings. On Kartick Bose Lane in North Kolkata, the owner did not allow the KMC team to enter the house. In such cases, the KMC will put up a notice under Section 496 A of the KMC Act.

The KMC will file cases against these owners in the Municipal Court, where the quantum of punishment can vary between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1 lakh.

Ghosh said the civic authorities have launched anti-larvae drive from January and sought cooperation of people from all walks of life.