Built like a deck of cards: Agnimitra Paul on faulty construction of Taratala warehouse

West Bengal Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul who was one of the first senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to rush to the spot soon after the Taratala mishap on Wednesday said that the way the entire structure fell indicated that it was being “built like a stack of cards.”

“In this case, the plan was not followed. I can say this, despite not being an engineer, because the way the structure collapsed, the engineers who were present there expressed that the structure was being built like a stack of cards,” Paul said speaking to The Statesman on Thursday.

Advertisement

As the state government remains occupied in rescue and relief operations, Paul said, “Today we are fixing the SOP in which the audit will be carried out from our department.”

তারাতলা বিপর্যয় নিয়ে সরব অগ্নিমিত্রা, দোষীদের বিরুদ্ধে কড়া ব্যবস্থার দাবি@paulagnimitra1 | @BJP4Bengal | @BJP4India #DainikStatesman #AgnimitraPaul #Taratala #BuildingCollapse #Kolkata #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/qzRfGfS8iG

— Dainik Statesman (@StatesmanDainik) June 25, 2026

Speaking about how the plan is sanctioned and the method in which it is monitored, “The plan was sanctioned. An architect draws the plan; an engineer executes it. Another aspect is monitoring. It should be monitored whether the contractor who is working as per the plan is following it.”

Paul ascertained that the Suvendu Adhikari government has launched a mega crackdown on illegal constructions, and structures who are not abiding by building norms will be demolished.

“We are closely monitoring everything. After Suvendu Adhikari government came to power, there has been a heavy crackdown on illegal constructions and sent notices to those commercial establishments. If they are not abiding by government norms those structures will be demolished,” she said.

After the Taratala mishap, the chief minister has ordered a complete shutdown of all ongoing construction work, except for essential services, for the next four weeks in the Kolkata Municipal area, in addition to areas like Rajarhat-New Town, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Pujali, Bishnupur, Sonarpur, Baruipur. He announced that during this period, all approved building plans will undergo an audit.

A high-level committee has been formed under the leadership of Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Pandey including senior government officials as well as representatives from IIT Kharagpur, Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), Indian Railway Construction Limited (IRCON), the Fire Services Department, the Public Works Department, and the KMC.