Bagree Market building fit for business? Engineers to decide
Kolkata: The Group of Ministers (GoM) has decided to engage structural engineers to assess the condition of the building of Bagree Market after the devastating fire that led to a loss of a few crores of rupees. It was also stated that it would be checked if the building is still "fit for business".
Partha Chatterjee, the state Parliamentary affairs minister, said: "Forensic experts have already started their work. But we are worried about the condition of the building. It would not be right or possible to take any decision without consulting the experts. So the matter related to engaging structural engineers has been discussed in the meeting held on Thursday."
The GoM that was set up by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to tackle any emergency situation during her tour to Germany and Italy held a meeting at Nabanna on Thursday.
Chatterjee said the Chief Minister is in constant touch with them and is regularly taking updates on various developments across the state including that of Bagree Market fire. He also mentioned that it was repeatedly found that incidents of fire interestingly take place on Saturdays and Sundays. "The matter has also been discussed in the meeting and the concerned department is looking into the matter," he said, adding that there are many "dangerous buildings" in the city and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had served notices to owners of the buildings but they have not vacated them. When asked whether any strong measures will be taken against inhabitants of such buildings, Chatterjee said: "It would be wrong to consider us weak as we prefer to be calm most of the time."
He further stated that the police are looking into the matter related to the authorities of the Bagree Estates Private Limited that owns the building.
An eight-member team of forensic experts led by Wasim Rezai visited the burnt-out portions of Bagree Market and collected samples to determine the cause of the fire that broke out on Sunday early morning.
The forensic experts collected samples from the electric meter box and bricks that have been damaged by the fire. The team had tried to enter the building on Monday but could not because of excessive heat and smoke. The forensic experts spent four to five hours collecting the samples.
Meanwhile, Arijit Pandey, director of Fire Services, said the fire has been put out and there are no pocket fire or smoke. Six gates of the markets have been sealed and CCTV cameras have been installed.
The offices of the Building department of the KMC will visit the spot and carry out structural stability tests. On getting the reports for the same, it will decide whether the building will be pulled down or the owners will be allowed to carry out repair.
