Buddhadeb says top two Stephen Court floors illegal

KOLKATA - Admitting to the existence of a “vicious cycle” that allowed construction of additional floors on buildings like Stephen Court without fire safety measures, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday said the top two floors of the edifice on Park Street were illegal.

Bhattacharjee said an investigation was on to find how the two top floors - added to the building in 1984 - got clearance from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

“I understand there is a vicious cycle working in connivance with a section of the administration. The Stephen Court fire has opened our eyes and we need to intervene in similar situations everywhere to prevent such tragedies,” the chief minister said in the state assembly.

Bhattacharjee said unless stern action was taken against those flouting the rules and allowing unauthorised constructions in and around the metropolis, the situation could not be controlled.

“I can’t allow such a situation to take place and I must act on it,” he said.