This was decided at a meeting convened by CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening following the latest subsidence at Madan Dutta Lane, where at least 180 people were evacuated after 12 buildings developed cracks since Friday.
Besides, the Metro authorities will be accountable for any damage that is subsequently caused in the Bowbazar belt up to three years after construction ends and be responsible for rehabilitating families and repairing homes, mayor Firhad Hakim announced at the latest cave-in site, where he reached along with the chief and home secretaries, municipal commissioner, police commissioner and KMRC officials at the instruction of the CM to conduct a spot survey.
“To avoid inconvenience to residents who have to move out in panic at odd hours whenever a problem occurs, we have decided that KMRC will inform KMC and police about where they intend to work underground so that those living in the houses above can be shifted to hotels before the work begins. They will return after the work gets completed,” Hakim said.
KMRC said 400 residents of 35 buildings in the cave-in zone will have to be evacuated before work can restart.
KMC, city cops to set up camps in affected area
The KMC and Kolkata Police will set up a camp in the affected zone to help the displaced. Officials manning the camps will make immediate arrangements to shift the affected residents to safer locations and offer them adequate relief, food and healthcare. Special care will be taken to ensure least inconvenience to students, patients and vulnerable persons.
KMRC officials said they have relocated 28 families since Friday morning, and each of these families will receive a compensation of Rs 5 lakh if their hotel stay exceeds 30 days. Those who have lost their livelihoods, including owners of gold and silver workshops and sweet shops with areas up to 100sqft, will receive Rs 1.5 lakh each.
KMRC officials said they have relocated 28 families from the subsidence zone since Friday morning
The KMC will, in the meantime, chalk out a redevelopment plan for the 71 houses that have been severely damaged in the area encompassing Durga Pituri Lane, Syankrapara Lane, Gour Dey Lane, Madan Dutta Lane, and a section of BB Ganguly Street. While the maximum damage was caused in the first subsidence in August 2019, the last two cave-ins – in May this year and on Friday – have also affected hundreds.
The KMC buildings department officials and the municipal commissioner on Saturday held marathon meetings on the future course of action to save buildings that are located next to the damaged structures on Madan Dutta Lane.
The civic body will also take help of experts from Jadavpur University to conduct a survey of soil settlement in the area, officials said.