Written by Sharadiya Mitra
Kolkata city’s right architectural legacy stands poised for consistent preservation, as the civic body has recently drafted a set of updated rules to ensure uniform standards for the conservation and management of all listed heritage structures in the city.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has forwarded the draft guidelines to the West Bengal government for approval so that the architectural relics are conserved through enforceable preservation rules.
Experts feel that this step would significantly bring in a comprehensive system to protect the heritage structures dotting Kolkata city despite decades of identification and documentation.
Despite having a structured approach, the existing conservation rules and grading system formulated by a team led by historian Prof Barun De had left many buildings vulnerable to alterations, neglect, and demolition.
“We have prepared a detailed draft that can truly change the way heritage is preserved in Kolkata. What Kolkata needs now is not just admiration for its past, but commitment to its future. These rules are a start—but only if they’re allowed to take effect,” said an official from the Heritage Conservation Committee. “But until the government clears it, our hands are tied,” he added.
Prof Barun De-led subcommittee was tasked with reviewing and refining the list of heritage buildings compiled in 1998, as many entries were found to be either inaccurate, outdated, or lacking historical significance.
The revised document grouped 611 buildings under Grade I, which stipulated no structural changes, 197 buildings under Grade IIA that allowed minor additions in open spaces, and 109 structures under Grade IIB that permitted minor modifications under supervision.
In 1997, the Government of West Bengal formed an expert committee to identify heritage structures within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) limits. By 1998, a detailed list was submitted, and the KMC Act was amended to include a section dedicated to heritage protection.
Although KMC acknowledged the revised list, the lack of proper regulatory support meant conservation efforts remained largely symbolic.
(The writer is an intern with the Indian Express)