“There is no way we can retain the present structure. The piling work is likely to do more damage to it and we can’t take a chance of putting the residents at risk,” said a KMC buildings department official.
At least three more such buildings near the temple have come under civic scanner. The ongoing skywalk project can pose a threat to these rickety structures, the civic body has observed.
While KMC buildings department will demolish the three-storey building and sanction a fresh plan for its reconstruction, further inspections will decide the fate of three other buildings.
The issue of demolition of the building – located within a 50m radius of the temple complex – came up for discussion at a recent mayor-in-council meeting after a round of survey by the civic engineers. The survey report pointed out that the piling work of the skywalk project could lead to major damage to the already weak structure.
In fact, KMC had ordered the survey in May after some local residents started complaining about cracks appearing on their buildings because of the ongoing project. “After an initial survey, we found four buildings – three on Kali Temple Road and one close to Kalighat police station – had become structurally weak. We compiled a report with details of the condition of the buildings and the probable impact of the skywalk project on these buildings. The KMC buildings department started a fresh survey thereafter,” said a civic official.
An on-spot survey by a TOI team on Friday found several buildings on Kali Temple Road in need of immediate repair to avoid an accident during the piling work of the skywalk project. The building that has been identified for demolition houses 10 residents and a confectionery shop on the ground floor.
A section of the residents of the rickety buildings conceded that they were worried over their safety. Subir Bose, a small-time trader who stays at one such building as a tenant, said he was staying at the building as he had nowhere to shift.