KMC to use retired cops in teams for pulling down illegal constructions

Kolkata: The Building department of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to constitute two teams comprising retired officers of Kolkata Police and officials of its own department, who will be physically present during pulling down of illegal buildings or constructions in the city.

The decision comes in the wake of KMC teams being subjected to resistance for attempting to demolish such structures.

"There have been instances when our teams have been intimidated and attempts have been made to prevent them from executing work of pulling down illegal constructions. So we have decided to involve retired officers from Kolkata Police while we go for such exercises. We feel that these officials will be able to overcome such resistance in a much more effective manner," a senior official of KMC's Building department said.

The department has also decided that officials of respective boroughs will identify illegal constructions or buildings in their areas, but the work for pulling down such buildings will be carried out by officials from other boroughs.

"At present there are 30 officials for carrying out vigil regarding illegal constructions. However, with complaints of such irregularities rising day by day, KMC has decided to recruit another 35 persons for such supervisory work," the official added.

As per estimates of the Building department, there are 1,500 illegal constructions in the city at present.

It may be mentioned that Mayor Firhad Hakim has already fixed responsibility of officials and now sub-assistant and assistant engineers will have to lodge FIRs against illegal construction in their respective jurisdictions.

Following the lodging of FIR the concerned official should inform the Director General (DG) through the Executive Engineer about the action taken. The pulling down of the illegal construction will then be taken up under the supervision of the Municipal Commissioner.

It may be mentioned that the Mayor has repeatedly said that illegal constructions have become a 'chronic disease' in the city.

Steps have already been taken towards public awareness about such constructions. "As we identify any building that is constructed illegally, we are putting up a board in front of it stating that it is illegal and hence under scanner," said Hakim.

The KMC in the recent past has regularised some buildings that have slightly deviated from the original plan, against payment of charges after conducting special hearing.

"I personally believe that allowing such illegal things against payment of fine should not be encouraged. So I have instructed for re-hearing of some cases," a senior official of the Building department said.