KOLKATA: Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), the implementing the East-West Metro project, on Saturday started paying Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the displaced residents of Bowbazar. Nineteen of them received cheques on Saturday and the amount will be directly transferred to bank accounts of the rest of the evacuees.
While the payouts brought relief for majority of the evacuated Bowbazar residents, some were unhappy with the ‘meagre’ compensation amount. There were others still who were skeptical about the entire process.
“Hats off to KMRC, I never imagined I would get Rs 5 lakh as compensation in just three days,” 45-year-old Sudipto Seal told TOI after receiving his cheque. Jayanta Seal, whose house at 13A Durga Pituri Lane has crumbled and may have to be demolished, was stoic. “What will we do with this meagre amount? We have lost property and belongings worth Rs 5 crore or more. We can’t go back to the prime location, can we?” his wife Sonali rued. However, Sudipto Seal, said, “At least now we have a little money to start a new life. I am not feeling as hopeless as I was feeling seven days ago.”
At East-West Metro’s Esplanade office just before the payout process started around 3.30pm, Kishore Karmakar, a 62-year-old jeweller from Syankra Para Lane, said, “This is so strange! I am getting suspicious. Never thought a government agency could be so proactive.”
A team from KMRC has been doing the rounds of 16 hotels where the evacuees have been put up to collect declaration forms. Till late on Saturday evening, police had received 40 declaration forms. Among them, 19 were shortlisted for giving out the cheques. KMRC undertook extensive and speedy authentication exercise over the last 48 hours ever since the agency announced to disburse Rs 5 lakh as compensation.
“Over the last three days, we have been allowing the residents to visit their homes to fetch their belongings. Those who didn’t manage to pick up their voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards or can’t provide us with their bank account numbers will be given a residential certificate by the local councillor. With this, they can open an account with the local bank and we can transfer the money,” A K Nandy, GM (administration) said.
After all the 19 cheques were disbursed, Nandy faced flak of one of those displaced. Sanjay Sen, an evacuee, demanded to know when the displaced families would return to their homes or compensated for the losses they incurred. “I have lost my shop, my own house…how long can one live in a hotel,” Sen said. His voice could be heard above the din inside the East-West Metro site office. Nandy tried to reason with him that they needed to follow the rehabilitation rules and things would take time. But Sen wasn’t to be pacified. “We understand the kind of psychological strain all these people are going through. It’s best to let them vent out their angst and convince them that we are with them,” Nandy told TOI.
While the payouts brought relief for majority of the evacuated Bowbazar residents, some were unhappy with the ‘meagre’ compensation amount. There were others still who were skeptical about the entire process.
“Hats off to KMRC, I never imagined I would get Rs 5 lakh as compensation in just three days,” 45-year-old Sudipto Seal told TOI after receiving his cheque. Jayanta Seal, whose house at 13A Durga Pituri Lane has crumbled and may have to be demolished, was stoic. “What will we do with this meagre amount? We have lost property and belongings worth Rs 5 crore or more. We can’t go back to the prime location, can we?” his wife Sonali rued. However, Sudipto Seal, said, “At least now we have a little money to start a new life. I am not feeling as hopeless as I was feeling seven days ago.”
At East-West Metro’s Esplanade office just before the payout process started around 3.30pm, Kishore Karmakar, a 62-year-old jeweller from Syankra Para Lane, said, “This is so strange! I am getting suspicious. Never thought a government agency could be so proactive.”
A team from KMRC has been doing the rounds of 16 hotels where the evacuees have been put up to collect declaration forms. Till late on Saturday evening, police had received 40 declaration forms. Among them, 19 were shortlisted for giving out the cheques. KMRC undertook extensive and speedy authentication exercise over the last 48 hours ever since the agency announced to disburse Rs 5 lakh as compensation.
“Over the last three days, we have been allowing the residents to visit their homes to fetch their belongings. Those who didn’t manage to pick up their voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards or can’t provide us with their bank account numbers will be given a residential certificate by the local councillor. With this, they can open an account with the local bank and we can transfer the money,” A K Nandy, GM (administration) said.
After all the 19 cheques were disbursed, Nandy faced flak of one of those displaced. Sanjay Sen, an evacuee, demanded to know when the displaced families would return to their homes or compensated for the losses they incurred. “I have lost my shop, my own house…how long can one live in a hotel,” Sen said. His voice could be heard above the din inside the East-West Metro site office. Nandy tried to reason with him that they needed to follow the rehabilitation rules and things would take time. But Sen wasn’t to be pacified. “We understand the kind of psychological strain all these people are going through. It’s best to let them vent out their angst and convince them that we are with them,” Nandy told TOI.
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