Khalil Ahmed calls for removal of plastic sheets from roadside shops

Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation Commissioner Khalil Ahmed has written to Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma, urging him to conduct drives for removal of plastic covers and sheds from the roadside shops and stalls, in order to avert fire hazards during the ensuing Kali Puja.

Plastics are generally flammable and the risk of fire from them is high with crackers being burst during Kali Puja. The Commissioner has asked the city police chief to contact Chief Manager (Market) Mukul Ranjan Barai, for any sort of assistance while conducting the drive.

His mobile number has also been mentioned in the written intimation by Ahmed. The letter also mentions that the approval of Mayor Firhad Hakim has been taken before this.

The use of plastic by hawkers came under the scanner soon after the Gariahat fire incident on January 20 this year, where multiple shops were damaged.

Mayor Firhad Hakim had then held a meeting with the hawkers' organisation, Kolkata Police and state Fire and Emergency Services department and directed against immediate removal of plastic, which is often used in roadside shops.

Officials of KMC's Market department have already held drives in several parts of the city including New Market area, to remove plastics used by hawkers. However, the drives were affected soon after the monsoon set in. Plastic sheets have since made a comeback at many roadside stalls as per sources in the department.

"The Commissioner has further advised similar drives for removal of plastic cover with the monsoon season getting over," a senior official of KMC said.

The KMC had recently handed over 29 stalls fitted with wheels to the Gariahat hawkers who were affected during the fire in January. The stalls have been designed in a manner so that a customer will not get drenched in rain while buying stuff from them.

The hawkers claim that they are compelled to use plastic to prevent buyers from getting wet during rain.