KMRCL to start paying compensation from Monday to affected families of Bowbazar house collapse

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) will start paying compensation to the families in Bowbazar area whose houses have been affected by the construction of underground Metro in the area.

A minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh have been asked for by the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Till now, 80 families have been identified, but verifications are on and the number could change.

After 52 houses were partially or wholly damaged since Saturday and 20 more houses collapsed on Wednesday, a few more houses were found to be in potential danger of collapse. Even state minister Tapas Roy was asked to vacate his flat on Thursday.

Residents in the area took to the streets on Thursday demanding immediate resettlement as they were finding it difficult to find immediate accommodation and have not been able to move out with important documents and valuables. Children have been unable to go to school, and office-goers had to skip work. Elderly people have been having a tough time as well. The area has been cordoned off and residents of some houses have been allowed to go in for 15 minutes to collect their valuables. But this has not been possible for those residents whose houses have been totally damaged or under immediate threat of collapse.

Banerjee has twice met Metro Railway authorities to work out short-term and long-term solutions.