Manohardas Tarag to be drained for Joka Metro, restored later
Times of India | 9 July 2024
Kolkata: A year after Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) applied, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) heritage panel has cleared the dismantling of Manohardas Tarag for tunnelling work of the Joka-Esplanade Metro. But the nod regarding draining the iconic pond — listed as a Grade I heritage structure — comes with certain conditions.
“The Metro work is a necessity but RVNL must adhere to certain conditions regarding Manohardas Tarag, which is among the 1,200 heritage structures listed by the KMC.Its uniqueness include the British architectural style and domed sentry houses surrounding the man-made pond. RVNL must preserve these four structures while the metro work is on,” said JU professor and KMC’s heritage committee member Himadri Guha.
The last 500 m of the Purple line, beyond the proposed Park Street Metro station, will be built in the cut-and-cover method. The state PWD, custodian of Manohardas Tarag, has already handed over the water body to RVNL for four years. The water body, which falls on the metro alignment, will be completely drained before metro work starts.
This is the point where the tracks will meet the Purple line’s proposed Esplanade station, around BC Roy Market and the Mounted Police grounds. RVNL had barricaded the 117mx60m pond opposite Firpo’s Market on Jawaharlal Nehru Road but the agency had to formally apply to KMC for the heritage committee’s clearance around a year ago. The heritage panel’s recommendation now awaits a nod from KMC’s mayoral council, which, sources said, is but a formality.
Draining the water body, built by Varanasi-born developer Manohardas Shah in the early 19th century, can’t begin unless KMC issues the formal go-ahead.
“Should the four structures around the pond develop cracks or are damaged during metro work, restoration must be carried out according to heritage norms,” Guha added.
“The tunnels will pass 7 m below the tarag or talao (water body) and the construction area is away from the sentry houses. Hopefully, the sentry houses will remain intact. But we shall ensure the water body, along with its unique structures, is restored beautifully once the metro work is over,” said a Railways official on behalf of RVNL.
Guha said the sentry houses were initially used as small temples when Manohardas first built the tarag. “They had Hindu idols though they resembled British sentry houses. The idols disappeared much before the British left the country,” said Guha. Shah, he said, was an accomplished developer who could give the European architects, especially the Armenians, good competition.
The water body is currently out of bounds for Kolkatans. But it used to be partly hidden behind roadside hawkers and because of the Park Street flyover. PWD and the tourism department spent Rs 28 lakh to refurbish it in 2015 but cordoned it off with iron railings. On its eastern bank, a stone plaque recounts its history in English, Hindi and Bengali.
“We hope the place will be restored to its old glory when the metro work is over,” said parliamentarian Jawhar Sircar.