Minor repairs fine but don’t alter heritage character: Panel to school | Kolkata News

Kolkata: Officials from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and West Bengal Heritage Commission conducted a second inspection of the La Martiniere schools on Sunday afternoon. They informed the school authorities that they would not need to seek permission for minor repairs such as fixing sewerage and drainage pipes, replacing sanitaryware and broken tiles, and changing electrical wires.The officials also requested the school to submit two lists — one detailing short-term repair requirements and another for long-term needs. They assured that the civic body would try to clear these requests expeditiously, provided they did not lead to structural changes or alter the buildings’ heritage character. Additionally, the two schools will seek permission to install floodlights on the playgrounds.A KMC engineer and a commission representative visited the school around noon on Sunday, following a Calcutta High Court order for a thorough inspection. This was after the court found a report submitted after an earlier inspection last Monday to be inadequate. On Sunday, the visiting officials checked all the areas highlighted by the school, including seepage from the roof, damp patches, cracks in walls, plaster peeling off the ceiling, and broken tiles.A KMC official said while they have asked the school to seek approval for repairs, they will halt all work if any heritage structure is affected. La Martiniere secretary Surpiyo Dhar, who has written multiple letters to KMC over the past couple of months seeking nod to undertake repairs during summer vacation, said the officials were extremely cooperative on Sunday. They appeared to understand the gravity of the situation and seemed eager to help the school carry out the repairs. “The case will be heard in court on June 10. But we expect a go-ahead from KMC even before that, as the court clearly stated that if the urgency of the situation requires it, KMC can give its permission without waiting for a further order from the court,” said Dhar.KMC issued a stop-work notice to the school last Nov after an alumni association pointed out that the school had covered its heritage steps, which had names of past students engraved on them, with marble tiles.