Kolkata, Sept 10: Calcutta High Court today directed the Archeological Survey of India to file a report on long term action plan for maintenance of Kolkata's famed Victoria Memorial which is an institution of national importance. In an interim order, a division bench of Justice Ashok Ganguly and Justice S P Talukdar also directed the ASI to take measures to stop seepage of rain water into the marble monument and submit a long term action plan in the form of an affidavit by November 10.

Environmental activist Subhas Dutta had filed a suit in the high court alleging that maintenance of Victoria Memorial was not being done properly leading to its decay. The bench also directed the West Bengal government to take steps to remove flyash and earth and other waste material being dumped near the southern entrance and adjoining areas within 10 days from the communication of the order.

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board was also directed to prepare an action plan for environmental protection in and around the monument. The monument, built as a Memorial to Queen Victoria in the renaissance style with oriental domes, was conceived by Lord Curzon at the turn of the century during the heyday of British rule, but was open to public on December 28, 1929.


Bureau Report