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Bengal CM orders power, water cut to illegal buildings; demolition after Tiljala fire
On May 13, 2026, the Bengal government ordered power and water cuts to illegal buildings and began demolition in Tiljala after a recent fire. Within hours, bulldozers moved in on a five-storied structure on Kustia Road with security forces guarding, and a nearby building was demolished as well. The timeline also recalls a January 2026 Wow Momo warehouse fire in Anandapur that prompted compensation pledges.
Why It Matters
The actions illustrate stringent enforcement against alleged illegal constructions in densely populated areas, with safety, governance, and political accountability at the forefront.
Timeline
5 Events
May 13, 2026: Politician reaction
May 13, 2026
TMC leader Firhad Hakim commented that mud-slinging won’t solve the problem and noted the dispute over buildings dating to the Left Front era; he also said a fire safety audit of all buildings had been ordered, though the report had yet to arrive.
May 13, 2026: KMC commissioner comments
May 13, 2026
Smita Pandey, commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, said, 'We will not allow any unauthorised construction in Kolkata. We are going to take stern action as directed by the government.' She spoke as the action proceeded.
May 13, 2026: Tiljala demolition milestones
May 13, 2026
KMC officials reached Tiljala to demolish the affected building and found it connected to an adjacent building in violation of laws; they began demolishing the adjacent structure as well.
May 13, 2026: Demolition and power shutoff begins
May 13, 2026
Within hours, bulldozers and earth movers were deployed to demolish the five-storied building on Kustia Road as Central paramilitary forces and city police stood guard. The Bengal Chief Minister ordered the Goenka group–owned CESC to snap power connections of illegal buildings and similar structures.
January 2026: Wow Momo warehouse fire in Anandapur
January 2026
At least 27 people died in a fire at a Wow Momo warehouse and an adjacent factory in Anandapur (Kasba seat). The BJP alleged the warehouses were illegal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced monetary compensation for the victims’ families.