Prepare List of Illegal Buildings: West Bengal Municipal Affairs Minister to Civic Bodies

Kolkata, May 18: Following a fatal factory fire, the urban development and municipal affairs department has directed all civic bodies to strictly enforce laws against unauthorised construction. Municipalities are required to report on illegal buildings and actions taken to prevent them.

Directive to Civic Bodies

Municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said, "I have asked my department to send letters to all municipal body areas where illegal houses and buildings exist. We are asking civic bodies to inform in writing how many such illegal buildings are there, why those houses have been built, and what has been done to stop them." The department has asked local bodies to prepare a report on unauthorised constructions identified in their areas and submit an action taken report within a fortnight.

Legal Enforcement

The department directed civic bodies to send notices to violators and issue stop-work orders. It also instructed local bodies not to allow deviation of plans for residential buildings and to check sanctioned building plans and completion certificates before issuing mutation certificates. The order reminded that wrongdoers could face imprisonment for 5 years along with a fine of Rs 50,000 for violation of building rules.

Regularisation of Minor Deviations

Paul also said the department would scrutinise all cases, and buildings without no-objection certificates (NOC) for having minor deviations in building plans might be allowed to be rectified. The department often receives petitions on illegal constructions and has asked local bodies to take note and issue notices if unauthorised construction is identified under various provisions of the municipal act and KMC act.