Civic body set to fast-track cave-in zone building plans
Times of India | 26 September 2024
Kolkata: The KMC is finally set to sanction building plans for the reconstruction of houses that will accommodate victims of the Bowbazar cave-in.
On Aug 31, 2019, 23 houses collapsed as a TBM hit an aquifer in an East-West Metro tunnel. Two more cave-ins took place in 2022, one in May and in Oct.
According to a buildings department official, KMC is in a hurry to give sanction to reconstruct 23 houses as 103 families are still living in rented flats.
The issue was raised at the KMC House on Wednesday by Biswarup Dey, Trinamool councillor in Bowbazar. In reply, mayor Firhad Hakim said KMC buildings wing was ready to clear plans for 23 houses to allow KMRC to begin construction at the earliest. Hakim said the matter would be placed at the MMiC meeting on Friday for quick approval.
“We share the agony of the displaced Bowbazar residents who have been rendered homeless. We are trying our best to cooperate with KMRC in rebuilding the houses that were destroyed by the cave-in,” said Hakim.
A KMC buildings department official said the civic body would give the KMRC three years to complete the construction of the houses for Bowbazar residents. “We will inspect the houses as soon as they are built and issue completion certificates if no deviation is found,” said the civic official.