Cabinet clears implementation of Thika Tenancy Act, okays construction of multi-storeyed buildings on such plots

Kolkata: The state Cabinet on Thursday cleared the implementation of Thika Tenancy Act to allow the construction of multi-storeyed buildings on Thika land in Kolkata and Howrah lifting the earlier ban of disallowing construction beyond a height of 9.5 metres.

The new law will entitle the Thika tenants to set up constructions up to five storeys. The tenants can set up their buildings on their own or through a bank loan. However, it would be obligatory on the part of the Thika tenants to accommodate the sub-tenants in the newly-constructed houses. Under no circumstance, the Thika tenants will be allowed to engage developers to construct the building.

State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim said that Thika tenants may also apply for subsidy and loan from the state government. The Act was passed in the Assembly earlier this year. It would be implemented in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) areas. The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) will later be decided by the KMC and HMC.

Thika tenants can approach the civic bodies for availing financial assistance from the government to set up the buildings. But no developers can be roped in under any circumstances, the rules say.

All the Thika tenants and sub-tenants will be rehabilitated in the new buildings. Each floor would measure around 385 square feet. A construction of up to five storeys can be made by the Thika tenants. The Bengal government will provide financial assistance to the tenants for setting up the building under 'Banglar Bari' scheme run by the state government.

Under this scheme, the Bengal government extends financial help to the poor so that they can set up their houses.

In Kolkata, the total area of Thika lands is around 2,000 acre while in Howrah the figure remains nearly at 517 acre.