Multiple government agencies on Saturday said the portion being pulled down within the compound of the Bengal Government Press at Gopalnagar in Alipore was “not a heritage structure”.
“The portion of a building that is being pulled down is not part of the BG Press structure in Alipore. It is located outside the main building of the BG Press and is not a heritage structure,” Shuvaprasanna, chairman of the West Bengal Heritage Commission said on Saturday.
“I have checked with several agencies and individuals and can say with responsibility that no heritage structure is being brought down,” he said.
Senior officials in the administration said the demolition work that has alarmed architects and heritage enthusiasts is a part of the Bengal government’s initiative to build a “green city” in Alipore by relocating the Alipore and Presidency jails and the BG Press. This would free up over 150 acres where the proposed development will come up.
The urban development department is the nodal agency for this project, which the Bengal government took up after opting out of the Centre’s Smart City project.
“Throughout Saturday, we conducted several checks and found that no heritage structure was being pulled down within the compound of the BG Press,” said a senior official of Hidco, the executing agency of the green city project.
The assurances did not cut ice with many who doubt the government’s real estate plans.
Architect Nilina Deb Lal said: “It is a public-owned property held by the state in trust. Has the public been given a chance to voice their thoughts on whether it should be demolished? Is there any transparency or accountability?”
“A heritage listing covers entire premises. The notified heritage buildings list contains the premises number, the assessee number. So, the entire premises of BG Press is a declared Grade I heritage structure,” she said.
Author Amit Chaudhuri, too, raised questions: “How can we decide which bit is heritage and which is not of a notified heritage premises?”
