State parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee on Thursday criticised the traders of the Bagree market over the devastating fire there and said an inquiry will be held as to why fire incidents occur only during the weekends.
“The issue that fire incidents are occurring particularly on Saturdays and Sundays was discussed at the GoM meeting on Thursday. This has to be looked into. It has been found that the traders of Bagree market flouted all the laws. They should understand that no loss should take place due to them,” said Mr Chatterjee, who heads the group of ministers (GoM) handling affairs in the absence of Miss Mamata Banerjee.
Mr Chatterjee said that the main task before the GoM was to douse the fire and that has been accomplished.
“The forensic study too has been conducted. The Kolkata Police commissioner is probing into the cause of the fire,” he said.
In view of the deteriorating condition of the Bagree market building, the GoM has decided to engage structural engineers and seek their advice before deciding on its fate. The GoM is concerned about the condition of the building and it will do the needful, said the minister.
He said that chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be intimated about the decision and they would seek her opinion on the matter.
Dismissing apprehensions of dearth of medicines due to the shops being burnt, Mr Chatterjee said he had taken up the issue with Mrs Chandrima Bhattacharya, MoS health, and she has assured him that there is no such fear. “Don’t pay heed to rumours. There is nothing to worry about,” he said.
On the issue of reopening Bagree market, Mr Chatterjee said it has to be first seen whether conditions inside the market building are fit for the traders to resume their business or not.
“Despite being outside the state, the chief minister is monitoring everything round the clock. It is not only Bagree market, but all issues are under her watch,” he said.