WB Heritage Commission Begins Mapping North Bengal’s Heritage Structures

Rajdeep Mondal, MP, 4 Dec 2025, Jalpaiguri: The West Bengal Heritage Commission has launched a significant initiative to identify and classify heritage structures across North Bengal, aiming to clear up confusion over the preservation and maintenance of historic sites in the region. The goal is to determine which properties will fall under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and which will be handled by the State Heritage Commission.

To kickstart the process, the Commission has announced a discussion forum on December 10 at Thakur Panchanan Barma University in Cooch Behar. Representatives from all eight districts of North Bengal have been instructed to submit written lists of potential heritage structures for consideration. These submissions will assist the Commission in prioritizing sites for official heritage recognition, restoration, and long-term protection.

The initiative follows a directive from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has stressed the importance of preserving North Bengal’s rich cultural and architectural heritage. The forum will be supervised by Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Chairman of the State Heritage Commission and Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister. For years, the Commission had been criticized for its lack of action on heritage preservation in the region. In 2013, North Bengal University, led by historian and Commission member Anandagopal Ghosh, submitted a detailed list of heritage-worthy sites across the eight districts, but no steps were taken until now.

“Experts in history and heritage from each district will attend the forum. We will collect lists of structures that are over 100 years old and create a consolidated document for official heritage recognition. Once approved, restoration and maintenance work will follow,” said Dr. Ghosh. He also emphasized that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the relevant authorities for each property will be necessary before any conservation efforts can proceed.

To reduce confusion, the Commission will clarify which sites are under ASI jurisdiction and which fall under the State Heritage Commission’s purview. For instance, sites like Gosanimari in Cooch Behar, Jalpesh Temple in Jalpaiguri, and Buxa Fort in Alipurduar will continue to be preserved by the ASI.

The forum on December 10 will be attended by Commission members and officials, including Madhav Chandra Adhikari, Registrar-in-Charge of Panchanan Barma University, and experts from the field of history and heritage. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in safeguarding North Bengal's historical and cultural legacy for future generations.