KMC seeks CSR fund of CESC to replace hazardous wirings in slums under Borough III

Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will urge CESC to allocate funds from its CSR, with which the civic body will replace the hazardous electrical wirings at slums located under Borough III.

"Electrical wirings in the slums under Borough III are in dangerous condition, which may trigger a major fire. Incidents of fire have occurred on more than one occasion in the recent past. So, we have decided to replace the old wires with new ones. The estimate will be prepared by us and I will urge CESC to transfer its CSR funds to our account, which will be utilised for the replacement work," Mayor Firhad Hakim said, after holding the administrative meeting of Borough III on Saturday.

The problem of illegal occupancy at the canal bank in the borough was pointed out by a number of councillors in the meeting. "There are garages, godowns and similar illegal structures along the canal bank. I will ask the state Irrigation department to conduct a drive with the help of KMC and Kolkata Police to evict the illegal structures. We will then take up urban forestry in these areas," Hakim said.

The Mayor also asked the councillors to implement the Banglar Bari scheme wherever possible, with immediate effect in the borough, considering the good number of slums being located there.

Hakim also gave instructions to KMC's conservancy department to clear garbage dumped at a place on the bank of Subhas Sarovar. "There is a tussle between KMC and Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) about cleaning the garbage. KMC should clean it up and charge fees from KMDA, which is the custodian of the waterbody," he added.

Meanwhile, councillors of ward 34 and 35 raised the issue of unauthorised construction in the area. "I have alerted officials of the Building department to be vigilant against such illegal constructions and pull them down with help from the police," Hakim said.

The Mayor also directed concerned officials to solve the illegal parking issue prevalent in the borough.