The Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) has initiated a demolition drive, resulting in the dismantling of illegal structures in five high-rises across the city. Additionally, notices have been issued to 43 other buildings, comprising residential houses, shops, and further high-rises, in a stern enforcement of municipal regulations.
The intensified crackdown follows criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier this week, highlighting lapses in municipal oversight that allowed the proliferation of unauthorized developments within Howrah. In response, the HMC has swiftly escalated its enforcement efforts, convening a high-level meeting scheduled to strategize future actions in the municipal area.
Key stakeholders including Minister Arup Roy, Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Tripathi, District Magistrate P. Dipapriya, alongside municipal officials, will participate in the forthcoming meeting to chart out comprehensive steps. The discussions aim to address systemic issues such as collusion between dishonest promoters and corrupt officials, particularly within the block land and revenue offices, facilitating illegal conversions of wetlands.
Highlighting environmental concerns, green activists have raised alarms over the disappearance of crucial water bodies like the one at Shanpur and ongoing filling activities at Dumurjala, leaving only Padmapukur relatively untouched. These developments underscore broader challenges in environmental preservation amidst urban expansion.
Operational details reveal significant municipal efforts, with approximately 3,200 conservancy workers deployed across 50 wards for intensive clean-up operations. Concurrently, law enforcement actions have resulted in 375 cases filed against illegal parking practices and the removal of 16 encroachments using bulldozers across North, Central, South Howrah, and Shibpur. Nineteen individuals were detained for obstructing the municipal process. As the HMC continues its vigilance, the municipality’s actions are poised to set a precedent for urban governance and regulatory compliance in Howrah. The ongoing drive reflects a commitment to reclaim public spaces, uphold civic order, and safeguard environmental assets crucial for sustainable urban development.
