Calcutta HC halts building construction on 'illegal wetland fill' in Rajarhat

The Calcutta High Court has ordered an immediate halt to a construction project on the outskirts of Kolkata, following allegations that the building was being erected by illegally filling up a wetland. The order was passed by a division bench led by Chief Justice TS Shivagnanam after a petition was filed by a resident named Prashant Ghosh.

The construction, allegedly carried out by a local real estate company near Faira Bhavan under Rajarhat police station, involved the complete filling up of a pond. Ghosh’s petition pointed out that such activity violates the State Municipal Act, which prohibits the destruction of water bodies for development purposes. The court has directed the Block Land & Land Reforms Officer (BLLRO) to conduct a detailed site inspection and submit a report within a month.

Ghosh's lawyer emphasized that recent collapses of multi-storey buildings in and around Kolkata often stem from weak foundations built over reclaimed wetlands. “Such construction poses a serious danger to lives and is a clear violation of environmental norms,” the lawyer stated during the hearing.

The municipality informed the court that the BLLRO's report would be forwarded to them for further action. Meanwhile, they have begun their own investigation into the matter. The court’s intervention comes at a time when several construction-related accidents in Kolkata have raised alarm about safety and legal compliance.

Over the past year, multiple under-construction buildings in Kolkata and surrounding areas have either collapsed or shown serious structural defects, triggering a wave of concern. The state government has since directed all municipalities to enforce stricter monitoring of construction projects and adherence to building norms.

Despite these efforts, illegal constructions continue to emerge, often at the cost of natural ecosystems. The latest court order is seen as a strict warning to builders and a reaffirmation of judicial commitment to protect urban wetlands from encroachment and illegal development.