EKW'S ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME AND WORKER'S SAFETY ..... What's up now !
The silence of media, political parties, and the government after the tragic death of 27 people in the EKW fire at Nazirabad is indeed concerning.
The incident, which occurred on January 26, 2026, has sparked outrage and raised questions about workplace safety and government accountability.
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The BJP has blamed the TMC-led government for the tragedy, demanding the resignation of the state fire department minister and increased compensation for the victims' families. The opposition party has also accused the government of being reluctant to take responsibility for the incident .
On the other hand, the ruling Trinamool Congress has hit back at the BJP, saying that the party is trying to politicize the tragedy. The government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh to each family that lost a member in the fire, but critics argue that this doesn't address the deeper issue of neglecting worker safety .
As for the media, it's possible that the silence is due to various factors, including the sensitivity of the issue and the ongoing election process. However, it's crucial that the media and other stakeholders continue to raise awareness about the incident and push for justice for the victims and their families.
Environmentalist and green technologist Somendra Mohan Ghosh (S. M. Ghosh) has launched a global petition on Change.org, titled "Save East Kolkata Wetland for sustainable development", aiming to protect the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) from illegal encroachment, land filling, and hazardous construction.
Key Aspects of the Petition & Situation:
Targeted Area: The petition highlights the severe ecological destruction in the Nazirabad area and Kheyada II gram panchayat, where natural fisheries (bheris) are being replaced by illegal warehouses, plastic processing units, and garages.
Recent Tragedy: Following a fire on Republic Day (Jan 26, 2026) that destroyed illegal warehouses in the Nazirabad EKW, leading to multiple casualties, Ghosh emphasized this as an environmental crime violating international treaty (Ramsar) guidelines.
Demands: The petition calls for:
Strict enforcement of preservation laws and adherence to Ramsar guidelines.
Immediate suspension of all commercial activities inside illegal warehouses.
Accountability from the EKWMA (East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority) and local law enforcement regarding the rise of illegal structures.
Legal Context: S.M. Ghosh has noted that while the Calcutta High Court has previously ordered the protection of the EKW, the pace of demolishing unauthorized structures has been slow. He thinks it's a wilful negligence of rule / sections 20 under EKW ACT 2006/2017.
The petition serves as an urgent call to action for Kolkatans and global citizens to protect the 12,500-hectare Ramsar site, which acts as a natural waste treatment system for Kolkata.