With the death toll in the Taratala warehouse collapse rising to eleven, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday targeted the previous Trinamool Congress government over allegedly approving faulty and unsafe construction plans, while assuring that “nobody will be spared”.
Waving a piece of paper while addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister alleged the building plan for the under-construction warehouse was approved despite a faulty design, and that the paper allegedly bore the signatures of former Kolkata mayor and TMC MLA Firhad Hakim.
“A faulty building plan was approved by the KMC (Kolkata Municipal Corporation). Nobody will be spared. These are all sins during your [the TMC’s] regime,” Adhikari told the House, while claiming, “Trinamool made Kolkata a City of Death”.
The remarks are significant against the backdrop of the rebellion within the TMC in the aftermath of its defeat in the Assembly polls last month. Interestingly, Hakim is part of the TMC rebel faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, which has challenged Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.
There has also been disquiet within the BJP over a potential “Trinamoolisation” after the party came to power in Bengal, as veterans have advised against the BJP absorbing TMC rebels indiscriminately. Adhikari’s statements targeting Hakim and his warning that “no one will be spared” could play out against this backdrop.
The CM said that rescue operations were still on, adding that five people were arrested in connection with the incident. The state government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each deceased, and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured. Separately, the Prime Minister’s Office has announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each of the deceased.
Till Thursday evening, at least 11 were declared dead by the authorities, with 19 others still undergoing treatment at the SSKM Hospital.
Meanwhile, Adhikari also announced that all construction activities in Kolkata and its surrounding areas would be stalled until cleared by a state-appointed audit committee. The audit committee, the Chief Minister said, will be headed by Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Pandey (IAS) and comprise top police and administrative officers, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand and KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey, and a representative from IIT Kharagpur.