Payloader machines demolished an illegally constructed two-storey market complex at Mahishadal in East Midnapore on Monday.

The complex named Amravati market had been constructed covering sewers and waterbodies by the local panchayat samity and inaugurated on June 22, 2015, by former Tamluk MP Suvendu Adhikari and then minister of state for environment, Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar, in the presence of then BDO Tanmoy Banerjee and then panchayat samiti president Tilak Chakraborty. The two-storey building housing 22 kiosks was built at a cost of Rs 35 lakh.

The two-storey building housing 22 kiosks was built at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. Telegraph photo

Problems started when BJP leader and Mahisadal resident Pradeep Das moved Calcutta High Court in 2015 over the illegality of the construction. The court ordered demolition of the structure in 2016 but the panchayat authorities moved court challenging the verdict. A division bench in 2018 ordered the structure’s demolition but the authorities did not execute the order. This prompted Das to move court again and the bench on January 20 this year asked the authorities to carry out the demolition within seven days.

Das expressed his satisfaction over the demolition.

“Finally, the court's order has been executed, we are happy,” he said.

Chakraborty, who is now the co-president of Mahishadal panchayat samiti and the local MLA, said: “The market was set up on PPP model to provide employment but the BJP filed the case for political reasons. We have accepted the court’s verdict and helped the administration with its demolition process. Affected traders have been given stalls elsewhere.”