Left Front takes out protest march over Baghajatin building collapse

The demolition of the dangerously tilted apartment building in Jadavpur resumed on Wednesday morning, with municipal workers continuing efforts to dismantle the structure. This follows the initial demolition that began on Tuesday night after cracks in the building, first noticed about a month ago, led to significant tilting.

Ward No. 97 councillor and Jadavpur MLA Debbrata Majumdar visited the site, acknowledging local allegations that the building was constructed illegally by filling a water reservoir 10-12 years ago. Residents claim the four-storey structure lacked proper permissions, a suspicion echoed by Debbrata, who stated, "I doubt whether this house has any approved plan or not."

Efforts to stabilize the building began on December 17 when municipal officials evacuated residents. A Haryana-based company was reportedly involved in attempting to lift the structure, but this work also lacked necessary permissions, further complicating the situation. "Permission for that was also not taken," Debbrata added, questioning why the municipality allowed the illegal construction to persist.

The building’s promoter, Subhash Roy, has been absconding since the incident. Authorities have launched a search to locate him and hold him accountable for the violations. Residents of the area have demanded stringent action, citing negligence and a history of unauthorized constructions in the colony area.

Adding to the tensions, the Left Front staged protests near the accident site on Wednesday morning, demanding the resignation of the councillor and highlighting the lack of accountability during previous administrations. They criticized both the current and former governments for failing to prevent illegal constructions in the area.

The incident has raised concerns about building safety and regulatory oversight in urban areas, with political blame games intensifying. Local authorities are under scrutiny to ensure compliance and accountability in future construction projects.