Just a formality: Firhad Hakim plays down Taratala warehouse plan sanction charge after Suvendu’s blistering attack

Former Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim who was pinpointed by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday for approving the faulty Taratala warehouse plan said that he had no idea about it and his signature on the document was only a “formality”.

“Generally, a plan is sanctioned in the corporation’s building department. As Commissioner, we get the MBC for approval. It is just a formality,” Hakim said speaking to reporters soon after the chief minister’s glaring accusation.

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Hakim who was the Kolkata Mayor when the plan was sanctioned has recently stepped down from the post after the West Bengal assembly elections. The Kolkata Port MLA has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebel camp led by Leader of Opppostion Ritabrata Banerjee ever since.

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Explaining the process behind the sanctioning of the blueprint document, Hakim said, “The plan is not supposed to come to me. A Municipal Building Committee (MBC) is formed where the plan is submitted.”

Referring to Adhikari’s fiery charge, the former Mayor said, “I don’t know in what context he has said that. I have no idea about this particular plan.”

Addressing the assembly on Thursday, Adhikari blamed the previous administration for allowing alleged corruption in the approval process of building plans.

“The Trinamool government has turned the City of Joy, Kolkata, into a city of death by taking money. This is the result of your sins. You have learned nothing from repeated accidents. The former mayor’s signature is here. No one will be spared,” he said.

The chief minister stated that the KMC had approved the Taratala godown plan on January 17 and alleged that the approval carried the signature of Hakim.