Task force to crack whip over illegal construction in East Kolkata Wetlands

Kolkata: The state Environment department is coming up with a task force for immediate action against any sort of illegal construction at the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) near Dhapa in Eastern Metropolitan Bypass which is one of the 26 Ramsar sites spanning across the country. The task force will have a senior police official in the rank of ADG so that action can be taken right on the spot.

"We are soon moving a file in this regard to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna. The task force will be constituted as soon as we get the nod," said Saumen Mahapatra, the state Environment minister.

A high-level meeting was chaired by the minister at Paribesh Bhavan on Saturday in presence of senior officials of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board where he expressed his concern over illegal construction at the EKW.

At least 385 companies associated with illegal construction at the EKW have moved the court in the last few years and 257 cases are pending. "The lack of manpower prevents us from taking spot action as we seek the intervention from government agencies like the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority for pulling down illegal constructions. This process is time-consuming and the company under scanner moves court leading to a delay in the whole process. If we have a dedicated task force, then we will be able to take prompt action," the minister added.

The satellite image of the EKW has revealed illegal construction taking place at several moujas.

The EKW spanning over an area of 8,000 hectares patchwork of tree-fringed canals, vegetable plots, rice paddies and fish ponds — and more than 20,000 people that work in them — is responsible for transforming one-third of the city's sewage daily and most of its domestic refuse into a rich harvest of fish and fresh vegetables.

The wetlands that serve as a natural sponge absorbing excess rainfall and does its bit to reduce pollution are under threat due to exponential expansion of real estate projects in eastern Kolkata, especially in Salt Lake and Rajarhat.

The place is known for rare aquatic animals and the marsh mongoose was also discovered by the Zoological Survey of India from this belt itself.