KMC dedicated cell to help Thika tenants and sub tenants

Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation will soon form a dedicated cell for providing assistance to Thika tenants and sub tenants to set up buildings on Thika land.

A notification regarding Thika Tenancy has already been released that allows the construction of multi-storeyed buildings on Thika land in Kolkata and Howrah lifting the earlier ban of not allowing construction beyond a height of 9.5 metres. The state Cabinet had cleared the matter on October 31.

The state government will be providing Floor Area Ratio (FAR) based upon individual premises and if the tenant or sub tenant fails to take up construction under their own initiative the government will take the responsibility of setting up the building.

"The beneficiaries will not have to run to thika offices here and there. After submitting the proposal, they can come at our cell and discuss regarding lease or other nitty gritty with designated officials. We will try to settle matters in 30 days so that the slum dwellers in Kolkata can live with their heads high in multi-storeyed buildings, " said Mayor Firhad Hakim who is also the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister.

The Thika tenants can have apartments 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.

The beneficiaries may also apply for subsidy and loan from the state government.

All the Thika tenants and sub-tenants will be rehabilitated in the new buildings. Each floor would measure around 385 sq ft.

Bengal government will provide financial assistance to the tenants for setting up the building under 'Banglar Bari' scheme run by the government. In Kolkata, the total amount of Thika land is something around 2,000 acre while in Howrah the figure remains nearly at 517 acre. There is thika tenancy land in areas such as Burrabazar, Sovabazar, Chetla and even in Kalighat area to name a few.