Don’t rush to raze illegal bldgs: CM

Kolkata: chief minister Suvendu Adhikari has advised the Kolkata Municipal Corporation buildings department not to hurry in demolition of buildings without giving notices in advance, thus giving the errant persons enough time to defend themselves. Adhikary, during an interactive session with the civic officials of different KMC departments on Saturday evening, sounded a word of caution as far as making efforts to demolish illegal buildings across the city.

The CM reportedly asked the KMC senior buildings department officials to tread with caution in cases of demolition of buildings where people from economically backward sections have purchased flats or have constructed their own dwelling units that have not majorly violated the KMC building rules. Adhikari gave a piece of his mind during his interactions with a senior KMC buildings department official after the Calcutta High Court asked the civic body brass to follow proper legal procedure before a demolition notice can be served by the KMC buildings department.

According to a KMC buildings department official, the meeting with the CM proved to be effective for formulating policy on the fate of the illegally constructed buildings and implementing the policy on the ground. “Our interaction with the chief minister has been beneficial as we have come to know exactly what the state administration wants in cases of the demolition of the unauthorised buildings,” said a civic official.

According to a KMC buildings department official, as per KMC rules, the department gives opportunity to every citizen by serving a notice and asking them to appear before the hearing officer. “If we find that deviations are minor and the applicants have not flouted rules out of a desire to gain substantially out of a project, keeping the civic body in the dark, we usually provide an opportunity to regularise so that the building is not razed, keeping in mind its inhabitants,” said a civic official, adding that after the CM’s message, the KMC buildings department will be more cautious about the demolition issue.