Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Agnimitra Paul Defends Park Street Milk Intervention Over Fire Risk
A woman named Sita Devi was warming milk on a small stove on a pavement in Park Street.
Minister Agnimitra Paul confronted her, and a video of the incident spread widely.
Some people and Opposition parties criticized the minister.
Paul said she was worried that a fire could start because pavements have plastic stalls and nearby electrical transformers.
She said even a small spark could cause a large fire.
Officials tried to find Devi a home, but Paul said Devi rejected several options and left one because its bathroom was downstairs.
Another home was arranged near Topsia.
The government also offered Devi a hotel-cleaning job paying Rs 7,000 each month.
Minister Agnimitra Paul said her intervention was motivated by fire-safety concerns.
A viral video showed Paul confronting Sita Devi while she warmed milk on a pavement stove.
Paul said Devi refused several houses and left one accommodation because its bathroom was downstairs.
The government arranged another home for Devi near Topsia and offered her a hotel-cleaner job paying Rs 7,000 monthly.
Paul said authorities must balance pavement-dweller rehabilitation with keeping footpaths accessible to pedestrians.
- Who
- Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul and pavement dweller Sita Devi, also identified as Rashida.
- What
- Paul defended confronting Devi while she warmed milk on a pavement stove and described the government's housing and employment assistance.
- When
- The controversy followed a viral video; Paul discussed it on Tuesday.
- Where
- The incident occurred on a Park Street pavement in Kolkata; another home was arranged near Topsia.
- Why
- Paul said she acted because of fire risks from stoves, combustible materials, and nearby electrical transformers.
Fire-Safety and Rehabilitation Argument
Criticism of the Intervention
Reason for the confrontation
Fire-Safety and Rehabilitation Argument
Agnimitra Paul said she intervened because a stove near combustible roadside materials and electrical transformers could create a serious fire.
Criticism of the Intervention
Opposition parties and sections of the public criticized the confrontation after the video went viral, viewing it as a political embarrassment for the government.
Managing pavement spaces
Fire-Safety and Rehabilitation Argument
Paul said footpaths should remain accessible to pedestrians and that civic authorities must clear adequate stretches of pavement.
Criticism of the Intervention
The incident highlighted concerns about how pavement dwellers are treated while authorities pursue footpath-clearance efforts.
Housing assistance
Fire-Safety and Rehabilitation Argument
Paul said the government showed Devi several houses, arranged another near Topsia, and offered her a hotel-cleaning job.
Criticism of the Intervention
Devi reportedly refused several houses and left one allotted accommodation because its bathroom was on the ground floor, indicating that the offered arrangements did not meet her needs.
- Pavement dweller
- Sita Devi, also identified as Rashida
- Incident location
- Park Street pavement, Kolkata
- Minister's stated concern
- Fire risk in densely populated urban areas
- New accommodation
- Arranged near Topsia in East Kolkata
- Employment offer
- Cleaner at a hotel
- Monthly salary
- Rs 7,000
- Public reaction
- A viral video drew criticism from Opposition parties and sections of the public
