Kolkata: A source revealed that a "Kolkata Municipal Corporation-appointed agency" commenced measuring properties owned or co-owned by Abhishek Banerjee, his family, or his company on Tuesday. The exercise aimed to document deviations from the sanctioned plan of several prime properties in the Kalighat area.
KMC Denies Direct Involvement
However, officials from the KMC buildings department stated that the department was not connected to the exercise. A source within the KMC buildings department indicated that the measurement of two buildings was conducted solely by the owners. "We are in no way connected with the measurement of the properties located on Harish Mukherjee Road and Kalighat Road. The owners may have done it. They will then need to send a copy of the findings to us. If need be, we will send our team to match our report with their findings," said a KMC official.
Parallel Inquiries Into 17 Properties
Civic officials reported that the KMC initiated parallel inquiries into 17 properties listed as owned or co-owned by Banerjee, his company, or family members. The civic assessment department is reviewing property tax dues linked to these properties, while the buildings department checks for irregularities or deviations from sanctioned plans. Officials stated that notices under section 400(1) of the KMC Act 1980 were pasted on all 17 addresses for deviations. Among these, 14 properties are in the Kalighat-Bhowanipore belt, two on Panditiya Road, and one in New Alipore area, as per a KMC official.
Notice on 'Shantiniketan'
'Shantiniketan' on Harish Mukherjee Road, where a notice was posted on May 18 for alleged unauthorised construction, is among the 17 properties. The notice directs concerned parties to appear before the executive engineer of the buildings department with the sanctioned plan and a fresh drawing of alterations made. "Once the documents are submitted, we will give the owners an opportunity to appear for a hearing," said a source.
Abhishek Banerjee's Response
At a TMC MLAs meeting at Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat home on May 20, Abhishek stated: "Let them do whatever they want. Raze my home, send notice. I won’t bow down. Come what may, my fight continues against BJP." Abhishek has sought additional time from KMC to reply to the notices.
Civic Officials' Stance
According to a KMC buildings department official, the decision to accept any appeal from Abhishek's appointed lawyer seeking further time rests with civic higher-ups. "According to rules we need to check any alterations from the sanctioned plan on the ground and based on our inspections we give notices to the errant promoters or owners of buildings. In this case, we have pasted notices on properties and asked the owner/owners to appear before the buildings department and submit necessary documents, drawings," said the civic official, stressing the need for early inspection of prime residential properties where deviations are suspected. "We are authorized to visit any buildings and check whether illegal constructions have been done," added a KMC buildings department official.
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