Kolkata, June 1: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed civic authorities to adopt a humane and legally compliant approach while taking action against illegal constructions, stressing that affected families should be given adequate time before any demolition is carried out.
During a meeting with officials of Borough-9 in Alipore, the Chief Minister reportedly expressed concern over recent demolition drives in the Tiljala and Topsia areas. He questioned whether proper notices were issued and legal procedures followed before initiating demolition.
Sources said residents were allegedly given very little time to vacate their homes before demolition began. An explanation has also been sought from the Director General of the Building Department, Ujjwal Sarkar.
The development comes after the Calcutta High Court granted an interim stay on a demolition notice, observing that authorities must follow due legal process, including providing notice, hearing affected parties, and allowing the prescribed time before taking action.
While reiterating that illegal constructions will not be tolerated, Adhikari emphasized that enforcement measures must be carried out lawfully and without causing sudden hardship to families. He also instructed officials to strengthen monitoring, conduct regular inspections, and issue timely notices from the early stages of construction.
The Chief Minister clarified that these directions apply across Kolkata, signaling a more comprehensive and legally compliant approach to tackling illegal constructions in the city.
