North Bengal University failed to submit list of heritage tag

Siliguri, March 12.TT: North Bengal University has failed to submit the list of sites that could be accorded heritage tag to the state government five months after the deadline ended because of lack of funds to compile and collate the details of around 50 structures.

The West Bengal Heritage Commission had tasked the varsity to prepare the list of the heritage sites in north Bengal and sanctioned Rs 16 lakh to finish the project in one year. The NBU couldn’t complete the project as it didn’t receive the second tranche of funds.

“The WBHC had sanctioned Rs 16 lakh when the project started in August 2010. We received half the amount (Rs 8 lakh) during the course of the project and used the amount to pay the salaries of the field investigators and for travel and accommodation expenditures. The second instalment was not released as the finance department of the varsity had not submitted the utilisation certificate to the WBHC,” said a varsity official associated with the project.

Utilisation certificate details the expenses incurred for a particular work.

The project was launched to record sites which are not less than 100 years old in five north Bengal districts and accord them heritage status so that they could be preserved and promoted as tourist destinations. The districts covered under the project are Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, and North and South Dinajpurs.

The officials involved in the project said they had short-listed 225 heritage structures in the region and completed the work of compiling the historical background and mapping of 175 sites.

“But the university could not collect the details of the remaining 50 sites and map them, what with the shortage of funds. Researchers were engaged to compile the historical background of the structures and map them. We need money for the documentation and to pay the researchers. So, it is necessary that we get the funds to finish the remaining work,” said the NBU official.

Some of the sites identified during the survey are Jenkins School established in 1851 and MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar. European Club, Town Club and Baptist Club are among the buildings which have been chosen by the NBU for the heritage tag in Jalpaiguri.

Asked about the delay in issuing the utilisation certificate, an official in the NBU finance department said: “Administrative work at the varsity was stalled in November and December because of an agitation by the employees. So, we could not prepare the certificate. The process has started and the certificate will soon be sent to the WBHC.”