‘Endangered’ Dalhousie needs more efforts

“The state government has undertaken several schemes to preserve this heritage site. Lately,issues like putting up period lights and railings around the GPO and removal of garage in front of the Writers’ Buildings have been taken up under the JNNURM,but still a lot needs to be done,” said Kapoor.

One of the most critical obstacles faced by conservationists is that often,heritage properties are involved in litigation or succession issues. There are several old houses that are worth preserving in this area but many of them are in the middle of some legal hassle,said Kapoor.

The government and especially the Kolkata Municipal Corporation are enthusiastic about conservation but archaic tenancy laws are a hindrance,he added. “The Bengal Chamber building is beautiful but old. But then the offices do not earn enough money to possibly carry out repair work,” said Kapoor.

Speaking on their latest proposal on demolishing the Telephone Bhavan,Kapoor said INTACH is yet to give a formal petition to the government. “We have met the Governor and had informally told him about it. The building does not fit in with the landscape of the area and is an eyesore,” he said.

Kapoor,however,said a lot of other buildings in Dalhousie needed to be preserved – many of which are in a bad shape. “There is the Standard Life Insurance building and the LIC building that need intervention,” he said.

INTACH’s next project in the area,he pointed out,was to restore King Edward’s memorial in Fairlie Place – constructed by the Nawab of Dhaka to mark King Edward’s visit to the country.