Kolkata: Following directions from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Firhad Hakim on Wednesday assured 13 families of a dilapidated structure in Bhowanipore new flats under ‘Banglar Bari’ scheme.
The structure is located within Ward 73 of KMC. The CM is also a resident of this ward. A portion of a decrepit building had collapsed at Madan Pal Lane on Saturday night. The location is close to Harish Chatterjee Street where the CM resides. However, the residents were continuing to live there risking their lives. About 13 families reside inside the building.
The CM had directed a survey of the century-old building and had asked the KMC to shift the tenants to a temporary shelter. She had also spoken to the residents on Monday evening while she was returning after her meeting with the Governor.
Acting on her directions, Mayor Firhad Hakim had visited the spot and directed the civic body officials to help shift the residents to a KMC primary school on Rupchand Mukherjee Road so demolition could start. On Wednesday, the Mayor visited the spot again with officials of the Building department. Sources said the plan is to demolish the decrepit structure and build flats there under the ‘Banglar Bari’ scheme.
However, residents were worried as to whether they will be accommodated in the newly-built structure once they move out of the dilapidated building.
To relieve them of their worries, the Mayor directed the civic body officials to hand over to them occupancy certificates which will be proof of their possession in the present building. Once these certificates are handed over, the KMC will start demolition of the structure. Last year, following the Governor’s clearance of a pending Bill, the state Urban
Development and Municipal Affairs department issued a notification allowing KMC to issue a ‘certificate of occupancy’ to inhabitants of dilapidated properties in the city, ensuring their rights to shift back after reconstruction.