KOLKATA: The municipal authorities have issued demolition notices for several buildings in Tiljala and Beleghata, giving residents just 48 hours to vacate what have been termed “unauthorised” properties. Many residents, who settled in these buildings over the last 15 years, face the anxiety of sudden displacement, particularly since the developers are currently uncontactable.
Residents from the affected buildings in Tiljala protested on GJ Khan Road, claiming they were misled by the developer into believing the properties were legitimate. “Today, a notice was posted on our building, yet the developer’s phone is switched off. Where are we supposed to go with our children and elderly relatives?” a resident voiced their concerns.
The notice specifically targets an illegal structure known as Elite Primo at 57 GJ Khan Road. However, there is a legitimate building, Home@57, at the same address. Asif Iqbal, a Home@57 resident, stated, “The illegal structure doesn’t have a proper address. We are confused by the KMC notice issued for our building. Ours is legitimate, and our developer is someone else altogether.”
In Beleghata, five buildings, including a restaurant, received similar notices. Local residents claim that the notorious developer Raju Naskar was responsible for most of these constructions. Businessman Mukti Lal Hoodati, who purchased a flat on East Coolia Road for Rs 54 lakh in 2011, expressed shock at the demolition notice. “I took a Rs 26 lakh loan from the bank to buy this property. If this is illegal, how did the bank approve my loan?” he questioned.
Another resident, Anupam Paul, remarked, “Even a building that is 20 years old has received a demolition notice. If they raze these homes one after the other, where will we go?”
The Tiljala-Topsia area is categorized as a Red Zone concerning the demolition of illegal structures. Other regions with a similar designation include Garden Reach-Metiabruz, Rajabazar, and Burrabazar, among others along the EM Bypass. “Approximately 70% of the buildings in the Tiljala-Topsia area have been constructed illegally over the past two decades,” a civic official noted.
KMC sources indicate that if the state government decides to demolish illegal buildings across the Red Zone, thousands may be affected. “A preliminary list suggests that we may need to demolish no fewer than 3,000 apartment buildings across six boroughs,” a KMC official mentioned.
A civic official acknowledged that building department personnel often avoid these ‘illegal construction zones’ due to the hostile conditions present. Similarly, officials responsible for the Burrabazar-Rabindra Sarani (Chitpore) region noted significant access challenges. Reportedly, many borough staff approach such localities with caution, often evading areas where tensions could escalate.
According to a buildings department official, senior civic authorities expect borough-level employees to display resolve, as failing to act against an illegally constructed building can have far-reaching implications.
