No infra, need paramilitary forces to protect EKW: HC

Kolkata: Reprimanding the state for inaction in removing 505 unauthorised constructions on East Kolkata Wetland, Calcutta High Court on Monday roped in the Union govt to remove them, while stating, "The state does not have the infrastructure. Now the court is contemplating deploying paramilitary forces."Justice Amrita Sinha, in her order, flagged the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority (EKWMA)'s lack of infrastructure to deal with unauthorised construction on wetlands despite detecting it. It was noted that EKWMA disclosed its inability to handle mass agitation when steps are taken for disconnection of electricity at unauthorised constructions.
Justice Sinha said repeated reports by the EKWMA did not result in any action on the ground. "First of all, you were not in a position to prevent these unauthorised constructions from coming up. Now, when it is to be brought down, you are unable to do it. You do not have the infrastructure. The court has to take help from someone else who can do it," Justice Sinha observed.The petitioners were directed to implead the central govt and necessary ministries — environment, housing and urban development, and home. The Judge also took into observation that the Supreme Court's constitutional bench sought answers on how the unauthorised construction over the wetlands is being dealt with."There are reports piling up over here, but I don't see any work being done on the ground level. Now I don't want any further report, and let the ground level work be done. The court is filled up with reports," Justice Sinha told EKWMA.EKWMA counsel said that they made advertisements in newspapers stating that in an EKW area, no construction can be made, for public awareness. It was submitted that wherever there are illegal constructions or boundaries, they are being dismantled. However, they stated that a joint inspection was supposed to be conducted there with KMC as part of it, as the wetland fell under the corporation. But no one represented KMC there, the counsel stated.The other problem flagged by the counsel was that there are unauthorised cases where they issued notice to the owner for demolition, but the dispute is now pending before the HC.Reacting on the encroachment of the East Kolkata Wetlands, mayor Firhad Hakim on Monday said it was not true that the KMC was doing nothing to prevent such encroachments. "In most cases, encroachment took place during the Left Front regime. Now we are trying to prevent such attempts. Sometimes ago, a KMC team had demolished four walls that had been constructed on a wetland," said Hakim.