Waterbodies being filled up illegally in Kolkata; will face crises soon, says HC

Observing that waterbodies are being filled up illegally in Kolkata and its adjoining areas for construction of buildings and other establishments, the Calcutta High Court Monday said if such activities continue, these regions will soon face water scarcity.

It is unfortunate that waterbodies are being filled up randomly, with the government doing nothing about it, Justice Samapti Chattopadhyay said.

Everybody seems to know what is happening around, except the government, she stated, while hearing a petition by Bidhannagar mayor Sabyasachi Dutta.

Dutta has filed a plea in the court challenging a notice sent to him by some Trinamool Congress councillors for his removal from the post.

His lawyer Bikash Bhattacharya submitted before the judge that the mayor was being "victimised" for demolishing several unauthorised construction and initiating action against illegal filling up of waterbodies.

Hearing this, the court said it was aware of illegal construction and waterbodies being filled up in Kolkata and adjoining Bidhannagar (Salt Lake and Newtown).

"Everything is going on under the nose of the government; we are seeing waterbodies being filled, everybody knows but the government does not know, am I to believe it?" Justice Chattopadhyay observed.

Referring to filling up of ditches along the VIP Road, which connects the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport with the city, she asked "whose interest is it serving?"