HC: Demolish unsafe parts of market

HC: Demolish unsafe parts of market

Express News Service

Posted online: Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 0116 hrs IST

Kolkata, May 7
The Calcutta High Court said on Wednesday that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation could demolish unsafe portions of the Nandaram market.

Justice Biswas directed the KMC to conduct a survey, following which the civic body could pull down the top six floors of the 12-storeyed building.

Commenting on the order, Mayor Biaksh Ranjan Bhattchrarya said,” The building is in a dangerous state. We need to demolish it immediately.” Laying blame on loophole in the fire-safety norms, Bhattacharya said, “The tragedy (market fire) would not have occurred if the shop owners had abided by the fire-safety norms. We are planning to issue trade licence only to those owners who have a clearance from the Fire and Emergency Department.”

The Nandaram Kashiram market building was badly damaged in a fire that broke out on Janury 12.

The Fire and Emergency department had to struggle for six days to control the fire.

Cochar Plywood Ltd, owner of the Nandaram-Kashiram market building, along with some of the tenants, had filed a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court seeking its intervention to stop the demolition of the building.

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HC: Demolish unsafe parts of market Express News Service Posted online: Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 0116 hrs IST Kolkata, May 7 The Calcutta High Court said on Wednesday that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation could demolish unsafe portions of the Nandaram market. Justice Biswas directed the KMC to conduct a survey, following which the civic body could pull down the top six floors of the 12-storeyed building. Commenting on the order, Mayor Biaksh Ranjan Bhattchrarya said,” The building is in a dangerous state. We need to demolish it immediately.” Laying blame on loophole in the fire-safety norms, Bhattacharya said, “The tragedy (market fire) would not have occurred if the shop owners had abided by the fire-safety norms. We are planning to issue trade licence only to those owners who have a clearance from the Fire and Emergency Department.” The Nandaram Kashiram market building was badly damaged in a fire that broke out on Janury 12. The Fire and Emergency department had to struggle for six days to control the fire. Cochar Plywood Ltd, owner of the Nandaram-Kashiram market building, along with some of the tenants, had filed a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court seeking its intervention to stop the demolition of the building.