'Easy To Abandon, Destroy Heritage Structures, Focus Must Be On Restoration': Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday remarked that while it may be easy to abandon, destroy and dismantle heritage structures in favour of modernised buildings, the focus must instead be on restoring and making them functional.

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice C. Chatterjee (Das) was hearing a continuing matter pertaining to the restoration of the tram system in Kolkata as a heritage operation. 

While hearing the plea, the Chief Justice emphasised the importance of preserving history, drawing parallels with the remnants of British Indian architecture in his home state of Madras as well as Calcutta.

He also lamented the present condition of the old High Court building, as well as the non-response of the State government regarding the use of the Writers' Building, which was the old state secretariat.

"What is the heritage recommendation for the Writers Building, for this building (High Court)? You may make recommendations but they won't listen to you. Instead, they will build a 20-floor tower here," the Chief justice remarked.

On the dilapidated condition of heritage buildings in the state, the Chief Justice quipped, "You come to [residence of the Chief Justice], you come there...it took me so much effort to dismantle the damage done. The floor is sinking...like High Court is sinking here, the Chief Justice is also sinking."

"You can destroy...destruction, removal, dismantling is easy. I will remove the tram, bituminise the tracks...everything can be done within 48 hours. Dump all the trams in a scrapyard, depots can be sold, tall buidlings will come up. There is so much history in this state, no where in the country you will get," he concluded.