Malda, Jan. 30: Malda district magistrate Chittaranjan Das has ordered an inquiry into the illegal construction of a multi-storeyed building in the heart of the town.
The three-storeyed building, that is allegedly coming up on 2,000 sq m of government land, is being built at the behest of Ashok Saha, the Congress councillor for Ward 4 of the Englishbazar municipality.
“This morning a deputy magistrate visited the area to take stock of the situation. Administrative officials will begin the inquiry tomorrow and necessary steps will be taken thereafter,” said the district magistrate.
The building, which apparently will have three storeys, does not have the sanction of the refugee rehabilitation department, which owns the land. Even the building plans have not been ratified by Englishbazar Municipality.
Additional district magistrate Abdul Khaled, who looks after the refugee rehabilitation department, said he would send officers and take immediate steps to stop construction.
Chairman of the municipality and Congress leader Narendranath Tewari said he had no knowledge about the alleged illegal construction. “My office did not pass any such building plan. I shall inquire and take necessary action,” Tewari said.
The mastermind of the project, however, is unfazed by the row he has kicked off.
“We are merely extending the premises of a club that already existed there. The new building is coming up on an area that used to be a garden,” said Saha. “We have submitted our building plans to the civic body. However, I have not informed the refugee rehabilitation department.”
Saha, who is also the secretary of the club, said he had plans to open a library in the new building. People in the area, however, alleged that Saha has bigger plans. While there will be shops on the ground floor, the first floor will have a community hall and the clubroom will take up the second floor, they said.