The residents of the Karunamoyee Housing Estate in E Block are up against a multi-storied complex coming up on a 32-cottah plot on the same block. The complex has four-storied buildings. A project of the West Bengal Housing Board, the proposed high-rise named G+9 Block will harm the environment, they alleged. The entire E Block, which consists of a cluster of 25 buildings, has only one side open for the passage of air and sunlight.

The 10-storied building, which is already under construction, will block the open area in the E Block. Moreover, the existing buildings are in a low-lying area which get waterlogged even during light showers. The construction site leaves no room for a new access road to the area.

The residents have so far approached several state government authorities, including chief minister, West Bengal Housing department, Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the local municipality.

“We are all senior citizens and most of us are ailing. We have approached several state authorities, but are yet to receive any response. If we cannot approach the government and the departments concerned for our problems, then there is no difference between the government and promoter,” said Satyabrata Chatterjee, a resident of the Karunamoyee Housing Estate.

State housing board officials, however, did not seem to be bothered about the plight of the residents. “The plot belongs to the West Bengal Housing Board. So, we can take up any project there,” said a senior official of the Board. Housing Minister Gautam Deb said: “ It is not possible for us to take care of everybody’s problem. But in all our projects, we provide the residents with an open space. I have to check with my officials to see exactly what has happened in this case.”