Kolkata, June 1: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has instructed municipal officials to provide adequate notice to families and residents before taking strict action against any illegal constructions. This directive was shared by a municipal officer on Monday.
According to sources from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the Chief Minister held a meeting with officials from the Alipore area on Saturday. During this meeting, he expressed dissatisfaction with the actions taken by KMC.
The Chief Minister raised concerns regarding the issuance of notices and adherence to legal procedures related to demolishing illegal constructions, particularly in the Tiljala and Topsia areas.
Residents have alleged that they were given very little time to vacate their homes before KMC commenced demolition activities. In this context, KMC sources revealed that the Director General of the Building Department, Ujjwal Sarkar, has also been asked to provide clarification.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has temporarily stayed the demolition notices. The court stated that even if a construction is deemed illegal, a specific legal process must be followed before it can be demolished.
The court emphasized that the administration cannot take unilateral action without properly notifying the concerned parties, providing an opportunity for representation, and allowing for legally mandated timeframes.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister conveyed a clear message that while the government supports strict action against illegal constructions, such actions must be conducted in accordance with the law and with a humane approach.
He stressed the importance of avoiding situations where families are abruptly evicted or homes are demolished without sufficient notice.
Additionally, the Chief Minister warned that illegal constructions will not be tolerated in the future. He issued directives to enhance monitoring from the initial stages of construction, conduct regular inspections, and issue timely notices.
He clarified that these instructions apply not only to the Bhawanipur assembly constituency but to the entire city of Kolkata.
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S.K./D.K.P.
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