Urban News

A senior KMDA official said that work on the rehabilitation scheme, a joint project of the state government and JNNURM, has stalled since locals agaitated a month ago alleging anomalies.

In a meeting held on Wednesday between local MLA Sadhan Pandey, KMDA chief executive officer Vivek Bharadwaj and chief engineer Anup Ghosh, it was decided that the authorities concerned will meet each complainant individually to address their complaints.

The area in question belongs to the state government and is governed by the Thika Tenancy Act. The Act defines two types of tenants — those who own a place are known as “thika tenants”, while those who stay in other’s places on rent are called “bharatiyas”. While the rules prescribe that people be given flats proportionate to the rooms they rent out, Babla Ray, secretary, Kumartuli Pally Unnayan Committee, accused the authorities of indulging in foul play.

KMDA chief engineer Anup Ghosh, however, said: “Two flats have been allotted per tenant and one flat per bharatiya. There is no room for any foul play.”

On reports of some tenants being allotted flats in violation of the agreements, KMDA Ghosh said: “We will thoroughly scan the documents with the Controller of Thika Tenancies. But that will take some time.”

Unhappy with the project, some local residents had staged a demonstration for nearly 50 days at a stretch. And while a few residents complained of unhygenic living conditions in the Baghbazar Public health godown, where they have been temporarily rehabilitated, The Indian Express team discovered an entirely different picture on its visit to the godown. Those rehabilitated have been given 10 ft x 8 ft rooms with supply of electricity and water throughout the day.

“I have some issues with the distribution of flats. But, living conditions here are quite good,” said Kamala Sau, a tenant whose house has been demolished for the project.