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Administrative Crackdown and Illegal Construction in Bengal

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
5 min read
Administrative Crackdown and Illegal Construction in Bengal

Ten days. That’s how fast things moved in Bengal. The BJP government, under Suvendu Adhikari, just rolled out a bunch of politically and administratively heavy moves. We’re talking about cancelling allowances for priests and Muslim clerics. Probes into alleged institutional corruption. Handing over land to the BSF. Trying to stop illegal animal slaughter.

Then there’s the fire. That Tiljala incident in Kolkata. That’s what really kicked things into high gear. Now they’re gearing up for something huge. A massive administrative crackdown on illegal construction across the cities.

They’re already looking into properties. Not just random stuff. They’re reviewing data across municipalities. They’re digging into the properties of top Trinamool Congress leaders. Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary, is already on the list. Seventeen properties named in his name have surfaced. And sources are saying it’s not just him. Mamata Banerjee’s brothers and other relatives? They’re also under the microscope.

It’s been going on for years, hasn’t it? All these illegal builds, these unchecked extensions. It just kept happening in urban Bengal. Despite all the disasters. The constant civic complaints. The fire safety nightmares.

Remember the Stephen Court fire on Park Street? Forty-three dead. A catastrophe. But it didn’t force any real structural change. No serious statewide enforcement mechanism. It just kept going. Illegal vertical additions, encroachments. Commercial operations crammed into residential buildings. The local authorities just watched it all happen.

Now the Tiljala bulldozer action changes the whole vibe. It looks like the government is finally pushing back. Even though the high court stayed the demolition drive, they’re probably going to appeal it again. That’s the real signal.

Meanwhile, inside the administration, people are starting to see things. It’s not just about tearing down buildings. Officials are saying they want to figure out how this mess got so entrenched. How illegal floors, rooftop additions, unsafe structures kept getting utility access, trade permissions, and civic protection.

The focus is really on those densely packed pockets. Where the access lanes are tiny. Where construction just exploded into chaos. Fires become potential mass casualty events there.

There’s this growing acknowledgment happening behind closed doors. Illegal building isn’t just some rogue act. It’s an ecosystem. It involves local civic machinery. Politically connected builders. Developers. Promoters. And weak enforcement. Often, builders get small approvals first. Then they just keep stacking unauthorized floors over time. It’s systemic.

Now they’re looking at digital records. They’re talking about creating updated digital records for sanctioned plans. Extension approvals. Fire safety clearances. They want to stop any kind of record manipulation. Civic bodies might be asked to physically check these vulnerable structures. Especially the commercial ones that have no proper compliance.

That Tiljala action, it’s not just about one fire anymore. It’s emerging as a chance. A signal that maybe, finally, they’ll confront the urban risks that successive regimes just let slide. It’s messy. It’s unfolding fast.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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