Kolkata, June 16 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mata Banerjee on Monday visited Kidderpore market in south Kolkata and announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh to those whose shops were completely destroyed, and Rs 50,000 to those whose businesses were partially damaged in a big fire early on Monday as the affected traders claimed that some 1,300 shops were reduced to ashes.

Banerjee, while announcing the compensation to the affected business people, said that the government would set up a new trading hub with all modern facilities and fire fighting system and allot them along with monetary assistance.

She said the funds would be given after the business people get a new site for them. She said the government would spend the money for setting up a new marketplace.

The massive fire, which was first spotted at 1 am, destroyed the trading and businesses of hundreds of shops in the congested Kidderpore market on Monday.

No loss of human life was reported in the fire.

The affected business people alleged that the fire-fighting vehicles arrived one-and-half hours after the blaze started well into the night.

As many as 20 firefighting vehicles were pressed into service to combat the flames as the pockets of fire were still under the scrutiny of the fire brigade personnel.

Traders alleged the Chief Minister did not talk to the office-bearers of the business organisations.

They also expressed dissatisfaction over the quantum of the solatium announced by the chief minister, saying the government gives Rs 2 lakh for a person killed in hooch incident and Rs 1 lakh to those whose shops are destroyed in the fire.

UNI PC PRS