Kolkata: Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) on Sunday issued trade licence verification forms to 40 shop owners, whose shops were damaged in the Bowbazar area due to East West metro construction work.
"The shop owners will fill up the forms. It will be duly certified by the owner of the building, councilor and police," said A K Nandy, general manager (Administration), KMRCL.
While jewellery and other shops are located on the main stretch of B B Ganguly Street, the workshops of the artisans associated with these shops are located in and around Durga Pithuri Lane, Syakra Para Lane and Gour De Lane.
The Swarna Shilpa Bachao Committee (SSBC) on Wednesday demanded immediate compensation for shop owners and jewellery manufacturing units.
While the Bowbazar is considered as jewellery hub, 350 such artisans working in 85 workshops located in this area are now suffering huge losses.
"We are suffering huge losses. We have shifted to 184/1, BB Ganguly Street. But we have to vacate it after eight days. We don't know what to do," said Vijay Suryavanshi of Vijay Assay Centre Private Limited situated at Syakra Para Lane.
Bowbazar is considered as jewellery hub of the city. The KMRCL had identified 35 buildings in Bowbazar which are beyond repair, a building assessment committee has been formed for carrying out health check of the buildings.
KMRCL has initiated the steps to pull down five buildings in the area.
"We have been asked to remove all belongings and furniture from the ornament making unit at Syakra Para Lane. At present, we are shifting the furniture and other ornament making machines to my friend's house in Dankuni," Vijay said.
It may be mentioned that a machine that was boring an East- West Metro tunnel in Bowbazar, had hit a giant aquifer on August 31.
More than 600 residents living at Durga Pithuri Lane, Syakra Para Lane and Gour De Lane have been evacuated. They have been shifted to different hotels across the city.
A section of the residents claimed that they are not getting proper facilities at hotel. The KMRCL had formed two teams. The members are visiting the hotel to check if residents are facing problems.