Kolkata: The administration on Thursday removed over 200 illegal establishments in Tiretta Bazar, the city’s oldest Chinatown. The encroachers had take up space on pavements and carriageways and even blocked entrances to several Chinese temples and government offices.
A month before Thursday’ clean-up drive, the administrators had directed the encroachers to dismantle the structures and remove their belongings.A final warning was given on Wednesday, after which a joint team of cops, KMC and other officials of the administration removed over 200 encroachments on Thursday.
Tiretta Bazar is the oldest Chinatown in Kolkata with a history of over 150 years. The area once boasted of several Chinese eateries, including the famous Nanking Restaurant on the top floor of Toong On Church. The place has long been a popular breakfast site for Kolkatans. On weekend mornings, the streets here turn into a food hub with some Chinese and other locals selling various Chinese delicacies.
“We demolished at least 200 illegal structures that housed vegetable vendors, tyre repair shops and shops selling tobacco products, among others,” said an official.
Several small Chinese businesses continue to run, including salons, sauce shops like Pou Chong and others in the neighbourhood. Tiretta Bazar also has six old Chinese temples built in the 18th century.
“We have been fighting to save our heritage, writing to almost every agency to remove the encroachments. They have been blocking the entrances to the temples for decades. Many members of the community have migrated due to bad living conditions here,” said a member of the local Chinese community.
Several govt offices have also been shifted to the KIT Building on India Exchange Place. “The encroachments were blocking the gates of the KIT Building. Vehicles were also slowing down because of the encroachments,” said a sergeant on duty at the intersection.
Five weeks ago, CM Mamata Banerjee had rebuked a section of her cabinet colleagues, civic bodies and the police for not taking adequate measures to free city pavements and carriageways of encroachments. The administration has already cracked down on various pockets like CBD, Gariahat, New Market and Hatibagan.