The Kolkata Municipal Corporation's (KMC) relief to the owners of old tenanted buildings has earned overwhelming response with many owners approaching the civic authorities with the plan to set up a new structure with proper rehabilitation of tenants.
The idea to pull down old, ill-maintained buildings with proper rehabilitation of tenants was conceptualised by Mayor Sovan Chatterjee. The owners who come up with proper rehabilitation package are given additional FAR.
The response is so overwhelming that the KMC has to hold two meetings of the Municipal Building Committee (MBC) to deal with the plan proposals submitted by the owners of old buildings.
Old insecure buildings pose a serious threat to the city's development. Most of the buildings are located in North (Boroughs I, II and III), South Kolkata (VII and IX) and parts of Central Kolkata. There are around 2,500 dilapidated buildings in the city.
The KMC declares them as "dangerous" and puts up notice boards in front of these structures. But despite the notice, the inmates continue to live in them risking their lives. In 2016, altogether 11 people died after portions of old buildings fell on them.
Most of these buildings have not been repaired for over 50 years. The owners get such meager rent that it becomes impossible for them to repair the old structures. In many cases, the tenants deposit the monthly rent in courts because of litigations with the owners.
To resolve the issue, Sovan Chatterjee came up with a workable and highly appreciated solution. The owners who are ready to rehabilitate the tenants would be given additional FAR. This has given much relief to the owners of old buildings. Not only can they pull down the old structure and thereby save the building from collapsing and cause injury to lives, it also helps them to enhance the rent as the tenants are given accommodation in new buildings.
The KMC is preparing rules to implement the Act which enables it to auction a property where the owner refuses to repair it despite KMC's notice. Senior civic officials said there are many buildings in the city where the owners could not be traced and so the structures could not be repaired for many years. "There are buildings in North Kolkata along the bank of river Hooghly that are more than a century old but repairs have not been carried out for more than 70 years. Once the rules are made, KMC will be able to look after these buildings."