Temporary relief for slum fire victims

Express news service Posted: Mar 14, 2008 at 0226 hrs
Kolkata, March 13 For about 15,000 people currently lodged at the four relief camps waiting to get back home, this might not be what they want, but a relief nonetheless.

"Permanent rehabilitation will take place in the area where the victims had their homes," said Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya on Thursday.

The Mayor, however, added: "There is a space crunch in the area. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will start constructing temporary hutments in the area from next week.”

The Refugee Rehabilitation Department has promised to assist the people financially, said the mayor. But the authorities are having trouble finding a site for their permanent rehabilitation ground.

Discussions between the KMC and the Refugee Relief Department are going on, he added.

The announcement was made a few hours after teams from KMC carrying relief materials to the colony in Tiljala on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, faced the wrath of thousands of victims.

The victims, who are currently lodged in four relief camps, had gheraoed the KMC staff members, demanding a rehabilitation package and a legal document of the ownership of the land.

"It is not easy to live in the relief camps. Every day we are being offered false promises by KMC and officers of the Refugee Rehabilitation department," said Beauty Roy, one of the victim staying at the relief camp at the Miloni Sangha club.