Environmentalists, including Naba Datta of the Sabuj Mancha forum, visited the Nazirabad locality in the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) following a major fire in late January 2026. 

Key details regarding the visit and the situation include:

Environmental Crime: Activists described the incident, which occurred at illegal warehouses on 26 January 2026, as an "environmental crime" at a Ramsar-protected site.

Illegal Encroachment: Naba Datta and other activists highlighted that Nazirabad is a sensitive part of the wetland network, where water bodies are being systematically converted into illegal, built-up plots, violating Ramsar guidelines.

Demands for Inquiry: Environmental groups, including Save Rabindra Sarobar forum member Somendra Mohan Ghosh, demanded a probe into how large-scale construction was permitted and why maps for the area appear to have been altered.

Political Fallout: During the visit, a political blame game ensued between the TMC and the opposition (CPI-M/BJP) regarding who is responsible for allowing the illegal construction of warehouses, some of which were gutted in the fire. 

The fire resulted in multiple deaths and missing persons, leading to concerns from environmentalists regarding the long-term ecological damage to the wetlands.