No construction until KMRCL provides certificate of 'no subsidence at Bowbazar'

Kolkata: The state government will not allow Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) to clear the debris and further construction until it submits a certificate from a competent authority to the government saying that no subsidence of land is taking place in Bowbazar, where houses have been damaged due to construction work of East-West Metro.

The decision was taken at the meeting conducted by the high power committee chaired by Chief Secretary Malay De at Nabanna on Thursday. The KMRCL is yet to arrest the land subsidence in Bowbazar. During the meeting, the agency deliberated on the technical efforts that have been put forward.

It also complained that the situation could not be brought under control despite experts being brought from Hong Kong and Singapore. The situation has further aggravated as the adjoining areas of B B Ganguly Street have also been affected.

Mayor Firhad Hakim has already instructed the building department to conduct regular surveys of the buildings in Bowbazar. After the meeting, Hakim said on Thursday: "KMRCL will provide us a soil stability certificate, following which we will give permission to clear the debris. The issue of reconstruction of buildings does not arise before it."

"The local councillors and the officers-in-charge of the concerned police station will prepare a list of the affected families and councillors will issue certificates to them on the basis of the FIRs lodged by the family members. On the basis of the FIRs, the banks would be requested to arrange the documents. Some family members have failed to recover documents from their houses," he added.

It may be mentioned here that KMRCL has decided to provide Rs five lakh to each of the affected families, acting upon Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's request. It would get the damaged structures rebuilt and will also provide alternative accommodation for the affected families until their houses are reconstructed.

Those who have lost their shops will also be compensated, but the amount will be determined by KMRCL authorities, Hakim maintained. The Chief Minister has also laid stress on the compensation to those who have lost their shops.

KMRCL has agreed to pay Rs 5 lakh to each family within the next couple of days. The councillors and local officers-in-charge are identifying the list of affected persons. The process will take some time as some more people may be displaced, Hakim said.

"The state government has assured all kinds of help to Metro authorities. During the meeting, they have been asked to expedite rehabilitation

and relocation work," Hakim said, adding: "We have delivered 200 water tankers from KMC to the agency, as they claimed it would help cover the cracks."

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, while addressing teachers at Netaji Indoor stadium, said that her government is with the Metro authorities and is providing all assistance. The Bengal government does not criticise the Centre only for the sake of Opposition, she said.

KMRCL and police officials on Thursday allowed the residents to enter their damaged houses to collect their belongings. Two representatives of each family were allowed inside.