Mamata calls for compensation of Rs 5 lakh to affected families

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday proposed to Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) to provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each family whose houses have been damaged or collapsed at Bowbazar due to tunneling work.

KMRCL has already accepted the proposal by Banerjee to build the houses which have collapsed and repair those which have been damaged. Till the completion of work and handing the houses over to the owners, KMRCL will arrange their accommodation.

The Chief Minister has also set up a core committee led by Chief Secretary Malay De, which would monitor the whole process. The Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, the Mayor, the Transport Secretary and Disaster Management Group (DMG) officials will comprise the committee.

On Tuesday, Banerjee along with Mayor Firhad Hakim, MP Sudip Bandopadhyay and Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay met with senior officials of KMRCL, including the managing director Manas Sarkar. During the meeting, Banerjee proposed to KMRCL to provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of families who have been shifted from their residences.

She also informed that CCTV cameras have already been installed in the area so that no theft can take place. It has also been decided that after taking precautionary measures and checking, one member from each family will be allowed to retrieve their belongings from their damaged houses in presence of police and DMG personnel.

She also suggested that the families can be temporarily rehabilitated in a building near Gem Cinema belonging to KMRCL, which is capable of housing the homeless residents.

"This is not the time for blame game. All of us must come forward to help the families in distress. We have requested KMRCL to provide interim shelters to the families who have been evacuated. KMRCL has accepted our request and will arrange for the same. They will build and repair the houses which have been damaged," said the Chief Minister. Apart from the houses, KMRCL will also build and hand over the shops which have been damaged and collapsed, to their owners.

She further said: "Several residents have complained that they could not even retrieve a single document like Aadhaar card, ration card or Voter ID card. It has been decided that special camps will be held to reissue such documents to the affected people."

Apart from these decisions, Banerjee requested KMRCL authorities to pay Rs 5 lakh to the family that used to reside at 13A Durga Pithuri Lane, as one of the family members' marriage has been fixed on January next year.

She has also proposed to provide some amount of money as monthly compensation to those who became jobless due to the incident. The Chief Minster stated that an extensive survey of the area by experts must be done at the earliest.

Following Banerjee's request, Sarkar stated that KMRCL is ready to extend help from all sides. But deciding the amount of compensation is not possible for him as it will be decided in KMRCL's board meeting. He assured that he will place the proposals before the board and will do everything he can.