I, on behalf of the local people bringing to your notice that we have a 300 years-old pond in our locality which is known as Bhabani Pathak Dighi which is declared as a Historical and Heritage Site by the West Bengal Heritage Commission.It is in the City Centre area adjacent to the Ambuja Housing.
The total 8.48 arcs of pond and its surroundings (area not known) have been declared as a. A tunnel was found when a construction work was going on beside the pond and some renovation work has also been done there accordingly by West Bengal Heritage Commission (annexure no 13). Now the pond is only approx 3.5 arcs left and rest has been filled.
This awesome site has shot to fame by the novel Durgesnandini of great Bengali novelist Bankim Chattopadhyay.The novel describes the best featuring and intricacies of these tunnels and the pond.
But despite of all lawful provisions, keeping Heritage Commission in dark, the Historical Site has been handed over to a Private Developer in a PPP mode by Asansol Durgapur Development Authority. We have repeated requested them to start an exploration work if any Historical epics are found but they did not respond and started the commercial construction work. RTI and many letters have been issued by us on behalf of the local public several times to different officials but no action has been taken by the State government or ADDA or DMC or DM Burdwan or SDO Durgapur.
History should be taught to our children in truth, and not in fiction or fabricated lies. Growth and preservation, if wisely planned, can march hand in hand. As Indians we must all strive to insure that our heritage is not destroyed.
The primary process of the activity is that the area has been guarded with a tall corrugated fencing and it has been totally covered from the public view and entry has been restricted.
Also it has been noticed that the developer has been given the opportunity to fill the pond with lot of soil and rubbish brought from outside, water is being drained out through a cannel to establish the non existence of the pond, alter and modify the structure of the pond destroying the Flora and Fauna, very old trees, open spaces and its surrounding parts which is feet for the commercial purpose of the Private Developer.
At last we came to know that the Private Developer has been given the tender to renovate the pond but neither is they disclosing the area of the pond not the area of the surroundings, Sir all these are being done to take the opportunity of the commercial viability. We have demanded that as it has lot of Historical values the renovation work must be handed to ASI so that if anything historical things found will be properly restored, otherwise the private developer will destroy if any things found.
We request to that the heritage pond must be 8.48 arcs as per LS record 1922-1932 and not the pond which ADDA want to mean. Because as per our information in the name of renovation of the pond ADDA have published they will keep the (water body) intact which is false , they will make fit as per commercial use.
Sir, we and the local people finding no way pray humble intervention into the matter and protect the ecological balance as well as the Historical Site
Contact Details:
Anindya Ganguly
7 Debi Coudhurani Path
City Centre
Durgapur-713216
Phone: 9933883666/9434133512