Rajarhat-Gopalpur MLA focuses on illegal bldgs, VIP Road waterlogging

Kolkata: Rajarhat-Gopalpur BJP MLA Tarunjyoti Tewari met officials of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday and asked the civic authorities to place a detailed report on suspected illegal constructions, along with a plan to revive the canals on both sides of VIP Road heading towards the airport.The newly elected MLA also asked the civic authorities to prepare short- and long-term plans on how to prevent waterlogging during heavy rain in areas off VIP Road with focus on Haldiram and Chinar Park crossings."There have been many illegal constructions which took place earlier and are still going on. I have asked the civic body to prepare and submit a list of who are involved in this work," Tewari said.Previously, following Calcutta HC directives to clear all pending hearings regarding illegal land grab and unauthorised construction within the BMC area, the civic body sent self-evacuation and demolition notices to 322 unauthorised buildings. However, many of the buildings remain.Tewari said filling up of the canal stretch off VIP Road and waterlogging were two other serious issues."There is a problem with the drainage system of the area as waterlogging occurs in several places like Haldiram and in front of Charnock Hospital. The civic body has been asked to come up with plans to prevent waterlogging," Tewari said.The temporary measures include installing pumps to flush out stormwater while long-term solutions include revival of the canals on both sides of VIP Road. "There are canals on both sides of VIP Road which exist on paper but are on the verge of vanishing. I have asked the civic authorities to give a status report on this. Also, Bagjola Canal needs to be properly dredged," he said.