Structural engineers in Kolkata file FIRs

Police on Tuesday received at least half a dozen complaints from assistant engineers against illegal constructions in southeast, north and east suburban Kolkata. The development comes on a day when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) commissioner Khalil Ahmed issued a notice and mayorFirhad Hakim instructed junior and assistant engineers of the buildings department to lodge FIRs if their notices against illegal construction were not heeded. Assistant engineer from borough-III Samaresh Dutta reported two illegal constructions in Beliaghata. While one was a structure on Raja Rajendra Lal Mitra Road in ward 34, the other was on Dr SC Banerjee Road in the same ward. Both FIRs, lodged with the Beliaghata police, pertained to the construction of four-storeyed RCC-frame structures. In another case, the Maniktala police registered an FIR against an unauthorized construction on Harish Neogi Road in ward 14 under the same borough. The FIR stated that the structure may cause fires, traffic disruptions and, drainage and water supply issues. Similarly, two more FIRs were received from Tiljala and Topsia. Police officers said the KMC FIRs will be duly probed. “They are following a set standard. The FIRs are being lodged only in cases of major violations in big projects,” an officer from the eastern suburban division said.