Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has advised the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) buildings department not to rush into demolishing buildings without issuing advance notices, thereby allowing errant individuals sufficient time to defend themselves. Adhikari, during an interactive session with civic officials from various KMC departments on Saturday evening, issued a word of caution regarding efforts to demolish illegal buildings across the city.
CM's Directive on Demolition Procedures
The Chief Minister reportedly asked senior officials of the KMC buildings department to exercise caution in cases where people from economically backward sections have purchased flats or constructed their own dwelling units that have not substantially violated KMC building rules. Adhikari expressed his views during his interactions with a senior KMC buildings department official after the Calcutta High Court directed the civic body to follow proper legal procedures before serving demolition notices.
Impact on Policy Formulation
According to a KMC buildings department official, the meeting with the Chief Minister proved effective in formulating policy on the fate of illegally constructed buildings and implementing it 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 unauthorised buildings,” said a civic official.
Existing KMC Regulations
As per KMC rules, the department provides an opportunity to every citizen by serving a notice and asking them to appear before a hearing officer. “If we find that deviations are minor and the applicants have not flouted rules out of a desire to gain substantially from a project while 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. He added that after the Chief Minister's message, the KMC buildings department will be more cautious about demolition issues.
