BJP-Trinamool row over ‘illegal’ Hatibari 5th floor
Times of India | 17 January 2025
12 Kolkata: BJP councillor in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Sajal Ghosh on Thursday alleged that the KMC buildings department had regularised a five-storey building in Santoshpur, in ward 103, under pressure from Trinamool councillor Ananya Banerjee, the owner of the building.
Ghosh expressed surprise at how a building that the KMC buildings department decided to demolish was not only spared but the same department reversed its decision and granted the ruling party councillor the opportunity to apply for the regularisation of an entire floor — the fifth floor — that was illegally built.Saif Ali Khan Health Update'Still trying to process': Kareena's first reaction after husband stabbed'Attacker was in son Jeh's room': Saif Ali Khan's staff shares shocking detailsSaif Ali Khan attacked: 20 police teams formed to search for accused
According to a KMC official, the building in question, popularly known as ‘Hatibari' due to the presence of a huge elephant structure at the entrance, was under the KMC buildings department's scrutiny when the department issued a demolition notice for razing the top floor in June last year. "Later, following political pressure from Trinamool bigwigs, the buildings department changed its stance and allowed the regularisation of the floor. The matter needs to be investigated, and the civic body should take immediate action," Ghosh said.
Rejecting Ghosh's allegations, Banerjee, the building owner, said she had papers to show that she didn't allow any illegal construction. "I am the owner of this building. Why should I allow illegal constructions at my place?" she asked.