Payloaders strike bldgs linked to TMC councillor, Sona Pappu

Kolkata: The KMC on Sunday launched a massive drive to demolish illegal buildings ‘linked' to Trinamool councillor Faiz Ahmed Khan, real-estate promoters, Beleghata strongman Raju Naskar and Kasba strongman Sona Pappu (now in ED custody). According to a buildings department source, a special hearing officer on Saturday ordered complete demolition of these buildings as they were constructed without sanction.Of these buildings, the demolition squad — armed with mechanised jackhammers fitted at the tip of payloaders, and gas cutters to cut through TMT bars in floor slabs — found razing two seven-storey buildings in GJ Khan Road in Tiljala an uphill task as the twin high-rises had been constructed in gross violation of KMC building rules and by filling up a water body. "We are surprised how a high-rise could be constructed without submitting plans and asking for approval," said the civic official. Other illegal properties that have been brought under the KMC hammer include a five-storey building in Beleghata and two others in Kasba.Three bulldozers were wheeled into GJ Khan Road to raze the two adjacent seven-storey buildings opposite Trinamool's ward 66 party office on the canal bank. According to local sources, the construction of the two buildings was completed and bookings were going on. The civic body had issued notice to Ananta Singh, Gul Md and others. Locals said both promoters, hand in glove with local councillor Faiz Ahmed Khan, were untraceable during the demolition drive on Sunday.Khan's father, Kasba MLA Javed Khan told TOI: "The land where the buildings came up once belonged to my family. Over the years, there were encroachments and the illegal constructions started here since the Left Front regime. We don't have any link with the illegal constructions."Two under-construction buildings, branded illegal by the civic body, were demolished in populated neighbourhoods of BB Chatterjee Road and Bosepukur in Kasba. State municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said the buildings in Kasba are linked to Sona Pappu and his henchmen.Locals in the area recounted how Sona Pappu and his gang used to "terrorise" them and group fighting was common there for promoting. A long-time resident said, "Two other buildings adjacent to the under-construction building being razed were also developed by Sona Pappu. People are living in them. The illegal constructions used to happen from the crack of dawn till sunset. We faced nuisance and terror because of his gang, but none could muster the courage to speak against them."Two other under-construction buildings were demolished on East Coolia Road and a nearby locality in Beleghata, both reportedly being built by Naskar. A local, Dibyendu Dey, said, "The construction has been going on for the past year and many buildings have come up in this residential area during the last 15 years. Now, it is difficult to ascertain which is illegal and which one is legal. At the time of sale, Naskar and his men claimed that all the properties were legal."State municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul on Sunday came down heavily on the Trinamool-run board for failing to prevent such illegal constructions. "We have identified the illegal buildings. Action will be taken against those responsible for overseeing, whether from KMC or govt, along with developers who constructed the structures. Those in the govt who turned a blind eye to irregularities for a payback will also be prosecuted. All this action is possible because police are providing support. And that has happened because BJP govt is now in office," said Paul, who was at the Kasba demolition site with KMC commissioner Smita Pandey.