Remove illegal stalls near city’s oldest fire temple: HC

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has directed the removal of decorative light shops and other unauthorised occupants from the compound and approaches of Kolkata’s oldest Parsi fire temple at 26 Ezra Street by July 15, clearing the way for urgent restoration of the Grade I heritage structure on Ezra Street.Justice Arindam Mukherjee, hearing an application by the Official Trustee of West Bengal under the Official Trustees Act, held that the premises, which includes the constructed agiary and open spaces around it, must be freed of encumbrances so repair teams, materials and conservation experts can access the temple from all sides.The court said a recent joint survey by the Official Trustee, KMC and Kolkata Police showed that persons occupying portions of the property or adjoining public thoroughfares did not produce documents proving lawful tenancy or licence.The order also asked KMC architects to prepare a scaled sketch plan of the temple and the entire premises, marking the constructed area, open spaces and boundaries. The Official Trustee, KMC, Kolkata Police, the temple authorities and, if required, KMC’s heritage committee and the state land department have been told to demarcate the property and examine whether several addresses on Parsee Church Street (19, 20 and 21) and Ezra Street (20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 and 31) form part of the temple estate.

The matter will return to court on July 16.Nine applicants claiming occupation of parts of the vacant area had sought to intervene in the proceedings, describing themselves as tenants. The court said their claim to be added as parties would be considered only after demarcation and on the basis of their asserted rights.KMC officials inspected the nearly two-century-old agiary last month, where over 90 shops selling fancy lights have long crowded the frontage and open areas. Officials from the civic heritage, building and licence departments, along with police from Hare Street police station, joined the survey for a report to be filed in court.