KMC building dept asks engineers to look for old bldgs
The Statesman | 1 August 2025
The building department of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has asked all its engineers to keep a tab on old and dilapidated buildings in view of the ongoing heavy downpour which has lashed the city for the past couple of days.
The Borough Executive engineers have been asked to intensify their vigil and keep a tab on old dilapidated buildings which have not been maintained for several decades.
Senior officials of the building department said as the old buildings have not been repaired or maintained for several decades their rainwater pipes have been clogged. When there is rain there is accumulation of water on the roof. This puts additional weight on the pillars of the buildings. As the pillars are weak due to lack of maintenance, they fail to bear the additional weight resulting in the collapse of the building. On Monday, a portion of an old building on Creek Row in central Kolkata collapsed due to this.
The officials said there are around 2,000 old and dilapidated structures in the city and most of them are situated in north and central Kolkata where there are few old dilapidated houses in south Kolkata. Most of the old dilapidated structures in north and central Kolkata are situated in boroughs 1 to 5 and 7 and 8.
The civic authorities have issued notices on the owners and declared the structures as “dangerous dilapidated”. But the owners and the tenants refused to vacate the premises. In 2022 and 2023, nearly 25 people, who used to live in old dilapidated structures, died after portions of it fell on these ill-fated people.
The officials said in a bid to save the lives of people who live in old dilapidated buildings, civic authorities have urged the owners of old buildings to make an agreement with the tenants so that the old structure can be pulled down to make room for new ones. “But the response is lukewarm as the tenants who occupy huge space at a throwaway price refused to move to less space,” they maintained.
The owners said there are buildings in the city where the tenants enjoy 2,000 square feet at Rs 50 per month. “You will get plenty of such premises in areas surrounding Burrabazar and Brabourne Road,” they said.
The civic officials said there are more than 250 buildings where the owners could not be traced. The civic authorities have given notices on the original owners. “The buildings have been taken over by trespassers and there is a proposal to acquire them and pull them down. The civic laws need to be amended for the purpose and the authorities are discussing with legal experts to frame the amendment.”