KOLKATA: Large parts of a two-storied building, partly made of mud, collapsed on Bedford Lane in central Kolkata on Friday night, rendering about 50 residents homeless. A Kolkata Municipal Corporation buildings department team rushed to the spot and shifted some of them to a nearby gymnasium.
The building — tagged ‘insecure’ — accommodated around 100 people, all of whom are tenants who had been living there for years.
According to a KMC official, the tenants were asked to vacate the building as the civic body would start a demolition drive from Monday. “We need to raze large sections of the house immediately to avert a disaster in future. For that, the tenants would need to move out of the house. While we have been able to shift a section of tenants, some are still reluctant,” the official said.
A visit to the site on Saturday revealed people gathering around heaps of concrete chunks that had fallen from the building. A group of tenants were seen huddled on the road discussing the possible demolition of the building on Monday. However, a section of the tenants made it clear that unless KMC offered them a proper rehabilitation package, they would not move out.
Ajmira Begum, a tenant, said it was impossible for them to leave. “We know the dangers of living in this dilapidated building. But we have no option as moving out of the building would mean paying at least Rs 5,000 per month as rent for a room in the locality,” she said. KMC building department said that there was no alternative to the demolition of the building.
The building — tagged ‘insecure’ — accommodated around 100 people, all of whom are tenants who had been living there for years.
According to a KMC official, the tenants were asked to vacate the building as the civic body would start a demolition drive from Monday. “We need to raze large sections of the house immediately to avert a disaster in future. For that, the tenants would need to move out of the house. While we have been able to shift a section of tenants, some are still reluctant,” the official said.
A visit to the site on Saturday revealed people gathering around heaps of concrete chunks that had fallen from the building. A group of tenants were seen huddled on the road discussing the possible demolition of the building on Monday. However, a section of the tenants made it clear that unless KMC offered them a proper rehabilitation package, they would not move out.
Ajmira Begum, a tenant, said it was impossible for them to leave. “We know the dangers of living in this dilapidated building. But we have no option as moving out of the building would mean paying at least Rs 5,000 per month as rent for a room in the locality,” she said. KMC building department said that there was no alternative to the demolition of the building.
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