West Bengal moves against illegal construction: bulldozers deployed, strict deadlines, penalties set
New Delhi: Illegal construction will no longer be tolerated in the state. Immediately upon taking power, the new government deployed bulldozers across various districts, including Kolkata, to demolish unauthorized structures. A rigorous drive is now underway to halt illegal construction across urban areas.
Municipal and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra issued clear directives stating that the government will investigate any complaints regarding houses built after March 31, 2026.
“If we receive any complaint regarding a house constructed [after] March 31, 2026, we will impose heavy penalties. The fines will be so severe that offenders will find them extremely difficult to pay,” Agnimitra stated, emphasizing that these steep penalties will apply equally to both commercial and residential buildings.
New approvals framework following Saratala incident
In the wake of the tragic Baratala incident, a new system is being introduced for approving building construction plans. Moving forward, binding plans will not be signed or approved without mandatory authorization from a certified expert organization.
“To ensure events like Baratala never happen again, we will engage specialized agencies or third-party auditors. They will monitor every aspect of construction, and projects will not proceed without their explicit consent,” the State Minister added.
Background on the Baratala tragedy
The crackdown comes a month after an iron shed collapsed at a factory in Baratala, resulting in multiple fatalities and several injuries, according to official data.
• Contractor absconding: Asghar Hussain, the contractor awarded the construction of the warehouse, has been missing since the fatal accident.
• Leaseholder arrested: Shambhunath Behera, who had leased the land from the Port Trust to build the warehouse, was arrested by police shortly after the collapse.
• Further action: Four additional individuals involved in the case have also been arrested.
The state government reaffirmed its resolve to enforce strict regulatory oversight so that tragedies like the Baratala collapse are prevented in the future.