‘3 foot galli aur 5 talla building’ — Kolkata residents highlight menace of mushrooming illegal constructions as 9 die in building collapse

With Lok Sabha polls announced just days ago, the ruling Trinamool Congress blamed a “tradition of the [erstwhile] Left rule” while the opposition pointed out that ruling party leaders are hand in gloves with the builders.

On Sunday midnight, a five-storied under construction building collapsed in Azhar mullah Bagan in Garden Reach. Nine people, including two women, have been killed and 17 people injured. Three people were still trapped under the rubble till late evening on Monday.  The area like in some areas of Kolkata, is congested with small lanes and bylanes.

“Theen foot galli aur panch talla building (Three foot wide lane and five storied building). This is common in the area. The buildings, four storied, five storied ones you see around you, are all illegal constructions. Everyone knows they are illegal… political leaders know. Now people have died… That is why there is such a hue and cry,” said a resident at Ajhar Mollah Bagan area, who did not wish to be named.

The scene at Garden Reach

In and around Ajhar Mollah Bagan area of Garden Reach, under ward number 134 of KMC, concrete high-rises were seen amidst narrow lanes and bylanes. While some are completely filled with residents, others are under construction. Along Paharpur Road, it is a common sight to see buildings almost touching each other or one tilting on another.

At least 20 structures with an immediate view of the collapsed building were under construction, all seemingly built in the last two years. The rapid, unchecked growth paints a picture of rampant illegal construction in the area. “Mostly illegal constructions in this area, buildings come up fast to house a growing population.  Such structures frequently lack proper permits, engineering, and safety features.  Building materials used are substandard, and construction techniques haphazard.  These factors combine to create a dangerous environment, with the risk of fires, collapses,” said Sabbir Ali, a local resident of Paharpur road in Garden Reach under which falls Ajhar Mollah Bagan.

#Watch | The building had been under-construction for the last six months. According to locals, initially, concrete chunks started falling off the under-construction building. Later, the entire structure collapsed.

Read more: https://t.co/Hv0VsLHnft pic.twitter.com/vVN7KL9X3V

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) March 18, 2024

Along with other shops, those dealing in building materials and house decoration were seen in large numbers in the narrow lanes, signifying a boom in building construction business in the area.“Today, because of this incident there are no customers otherwise we don’t get time to even attend nature’s call. We have orders day and night,” said a staffer at Basanti Marble shop, a shop which is less than a minute’s walk from the spot.

For the past three years this shop has been doing brisk business in the area, the staffer said. “The developers, builders have either added extra floors — without necessary permissions or encroached on land… Most rampant though is filling of water bodies to make way for concrete structures,” said Joybrato Bera, a local resident. “The rate which was Rs 1500 per square feet about two years back has now gone up to Rs 2500- 3500 per square foot,”  said a 26-year-old man, who works with a local developer of the area.

“Such a practice (illegal buildings) has been going on for 30 years… We have brought down 10 buildings in the last two months after getting illegal constructions information/complaints. On G+ 3 sanctions, promoters are building a 6 story building. Efforts are on to prevent illegal constructions in the area,” chairman of Borough 15 9KMC under which ward number 134 falls) Ranjit Sil said.

Town planner Dipankar Sinha blamed KMC’s officials, apart from builders. Sinha said, “Nowadays, KMC officials are giving permission to illegal construction randomly. KMC has a provision to recruit a Town Planner for monitoring illegal construction but KMC did not recruit a Town Planner for years…”

Political war of words

CM Mamata Banerjee and Mayor as well as urban development minister Firhad Hakim, who visited the area, both accepted the fact that the menace of illegal buildings has continued.

While the CM termed it a “problem that developed over long years,” Hakim blamed “a tradition which came from the Left Front regime.”  However, opposition parties pointed fingers at the ruling party leaders and the Mayor over the issue. “This is a congested area…. A section of promoters (builders), not all, should keep in mind that poor people live around their construction site,” said Mamata Banerjee.

I have asked the Mayor (Firhad Hakim) whether this particular building has permission. He said that the building (which collapsed) had no legal permission. It was an illegal building. I have asked the authorities to take action against the builder,” said Mamata Banerjee.

“There are illegal constructions here and this building (which fell) was illegal. But you know this practice (of making illegal buildings) is from the Left front regime. We have tried our best to curb it,” said Hakim.

However, CPI(M) state secretary Md Selim said, “TMC is ruling since 2011. How can a under construction building can take permission in left regime! TMC has formed board in KMC from 2010. Not only in Garden Reach, you can see illegal construction in every part of Kolkata. Nobody is there to stop that and ruling party leaders are making money from it.”

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted on X, “Since 2010, after TMC Party gained control of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), edging out the Left Front, more then 5000 water bodies have been illegally filled up and converted within the KMC area itself. Clear collusion between Local Councillors, Promoters and Local Police, under aegis of TMC Leaders.”