Twenty more houses in Bowbazar have been identified as “unsafe” and chief minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the state government authorities to coordinate with the East West Metro officials to ensure safety of those living there.
Banerjee today inquired about the Bowbazar situation while entering the state Assembly and she asked officials to ensure that residents were taken to safe areas and evacuate the houses if required. Since Sunday, scores of houses in Bowbazar have developed cracks, and several have been partly and fully damaged, and construction of the Metro was put on hold following a Calcutta High Court order on Tuesday. Several shops have also been affected.
On Wednesday, three experts on underground tunnel construction arrived from Hong Kong to inspect the area and to explore the ways in which the damage could be taken care of, so that work can resume.
Altogether 52 houses were identified, but now some more houses appear to have been affected as well. Parts of awnings and balconies are crumbling from time to time. People living in these houses had to shift out on an urgent basis on Sunday and Monday and they are now living in rented apartments or hotels.
Banerjee held a meeting with Metro authorities on Tuesday and said they should pay immediate compensation of at least Rs 5 lakh to the affected and build the houses and repair damages.
While residents have been temporarily shifted out, they have not been able to carry their valuables with them, and are worried whether they will find these from the area anymore. The CM said after the meeting that there will be CCTV surveillance to ensure that the valuables lying under the debris are not stolen. Metro Railway and the police authorities will look at this aspect. However, it is for safety reasons that people cannot be allowed to go into the area for a while now.
A core group – headed by the chief secretary – has been formed to supervise the situation. The Metro Railway general manager and four representatives of the affected families and traders will also be part of this core group.
