Kolkata: In the aftermath of the devastating Tiljala fire incident, the West Bengal government has initiated what is being viewed as one of the most politically sensitive crackdowns on illegal constructions and alleged civic irregularities in the state.
The government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has reportedly started reviewing records related to unauthorised structures, unsafe extensions, fire clearance violations and occupancy compliance across municipalities in Bengal. The move comes amid growing criticism over the unchecked expansion of illegal constructions in densely populated urban pockets over the years.
Reports noted that the administration has also initiated inquiries into properties allegedly linked to senior Trinamool Congress leaders and their relatives. According to reports, a list of 17 properties associated with Abhishek Banerjee has surfaced, while properties connected to family members of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee are also reportedly under scrutiny.
The latest development follows a series of major administrative decisions taken by the new BJP government in Bengal within days of assuming office. These include probes into alleged institutional corruption, cancellation of allowances for priests and Muslim clerics, handing over land to the BSF, and steps aimed at curbing illegal animal slaughter.
Officials believe the Tiljala fire exposed deep-rooted failures in civic enforcement mechanisms. For years, illegal vertical extensions, encroachments and unauthorised commercial operations allegedly continued despite repeated fire incidents, civic complaints and safety concerns. Even tragedies such as the Stephen Court fire in Kolkata, which claimed at least 43 lives, failed to trigger sustained structural reforms or a large-scale enforcement mechanism.
Following the Tiljala incident, the government launched a bulldozer action against alleged illegal structures, though the Calcutta High Court later stayed parts of the demolition drive. Sources, however, suggest that the state government is likely to challenge the stay order and continue pursuing stricter enforcement measures.
Reports said municipalities have now been informally instructed to compile detailed data on buildings lacking sanctioned extension approvals, fire safety clearances and occupancy permissions. Notices are expected to be issued in phases once the documentation process is completed.
Officials quoted in reports claim the crackdown is not merely aimed at demolishing illegal structures but also at exposing the larger ecosystem that allegedly enabled such constructions to flourish. The administration is reportedly examining how illegal floors, rooftop extensions and unsafe commercial establishments continued receiving electricity, trade licences and civic protection despite violating building norms.
The focus is particularly on congested municipal areas where narrow access lanes and unauthorised structures could turn fires into mass-casualty disasters. Inside administrative circles, there is increasing acknowledgement that illegal construction evolved into an entrenched ecosystem allegedly involving politically connected builders, promoters, sections of civic bodies and weak enforcement systems.
Reports further revealed that the government is considering the creation of updated digital records for sanctioned building plans, extension approvals and fire safety clearances to prevent tampering or manipulation of municipal records. Civic bodies may also be directed to conduct fresh physical verification of vulnerable structures, especially commercial establishments operating without mandatory compliance.
The Tiljala bulldozer action is now being viewed as more than just a local response to a fire tragedy. Reports quoted that officials believe it could mark the beginning of a broader attempt to dismantle what the administration describes as a long-standing illegal construction ecosystem that successive governments allegedly failed to confront.
