Now, state government empowered to curb construction of highrises in Howrah

Kolkata: The Howrah Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed in the Assembly on Wednesday empowering the state government to restrict or prohibit construction of buildings exceeding fifteen-and-half-metres of height from ground level within a radius of 500 metres from the strategic installations or buildings.

This has been done to enhance the security arrangements of the state secretariat at Nabanna.

The BIll will also empower the Howrah Municipal Corporation to regularise minor unauthorised construction in a transparent manner.

The amendment will enhance the financial powers of the corporation to facilitate civic services in a prompt manner in public interest.

It will empower the state government to appoint the commissioner, controller of finances and the chief auditor in Howrah Municipal Corporation and also to extend the term of office without any consultation with the Mayor-in-council to avoid administrative delay.

In reply to a question raised by an Opposition MLA on the floor of the house while discussing the Howrah Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2017, the state minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs department Firhad Hakim said that the Bill will empower the government to not allow buildings above 15-and-half metres within the 500 metres radius of strategic locations.

According to the new Bill, the permission has to be taken from state Home department for setting up a construction beyond four-storeys.

During the discussion on the Bill in the Assembly, Hakim pointed fingers at the erstwhile Left Front government during whose tenure a huge number of the illegal constructions have come up across the state.

The West Bengal Municipal (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 was also passed in the Assembly prohibiting the throwing of plastic of size and thickness in the drains as may be notified by the competent authority.