A long-standing dispute between the owners and tenants had turned the five-storey building at the Gariahat crossing, where a fire broke out early on Sunday, into a tinderbox.

The two owners of the building accused most traders with businesses at the address of occupying rooms at a monthly rent of not more than Rs 3,000.

“There are some who have not paid the rent for several years. I was forced to move court and spend money on lawyers’ fees. How can the authorities expect me to install sprinklers, smoke alarms

and other fire-safety measures?” said Asit Kundu Chowdhury, an owner of the building.

Prasenjit Kundu Chowdhury, son of the building’s other owner — Pradip Kundu Chowdhury — said his father had sold the top two floors in 1988. “The owners of Traders Assembly bought the two floors from the previous buyers,” he said.

Both floors now house godowns of Traders Assembly. “The sari and garments shop (Traders Assembly) is still our tenant on the ground, first and second floors,” Prasenjit said.

Ratan Kumar Saha, one of the owners of Traders Assembly, said the business outlet occupies around 4,000 sq ft in the building. The business has lost several crores of rupees in the fire, he said.

“Traders Assembly has not been paying the rent since 2006. Before that, they paid only Rs 600 per month,” said Prasenjit. “I filed a case against them in Calcutta High Court for illegal construction. Another case seeking permission for eviction is pending at the Alipore court.”

Manabendra Saha, another owner of Traders Assembly, refused comment on the allegations.

Prasenjit alleged he had alerted the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) about the illegal constructions carried out by Traders Assembly on three floors.

“I wrote to the local police station as well. I filed a general diary several years ago and submitted a petition in the high court. If the beneficiaries are not responding to my request, how can I ensure their safety?” he asked.

Adi Dhakeshwari Bastralaya, also a tenant, pays a meagre amount as rent, the building’s owners said.

The owner of the sari shop, Sanjay Saha, however, refused to disclose his tenancy deal with the owners of the building.

Firefighters spray water on the Traders Assembly building on Sunday. Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya