h) Change of use of the Heritage Building
Heritage Conservation Committee may permit change of use if the proposed change is compatible with the architectural, historical, cultural and environmental fabric of the heritage building. The proposed change of use shall be in terms of the Act and Rules and Regulations of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

i) Restriction on the display of signage, hoardings etc.
Normally no display of signage, hoardings etc. upon the heritage building is allowed. However, on approval from the Heritage Conservation Committee hoardings, signage etc. may be allowed if they do not obstruct the view of the heritage building or is in harmony with the heritage building.

j) Restriction for use of material for repairing / addition / alteration
Repairing /addition/alteration works shall originally be done through traditional building materials and construction technique. Any kind of use of new material shall be done with the approval of the Heritage Conservation Committee on recommendation of the enlisted Conservation architect.

k) Benefits of being a Heritage Building
It will enhance the valuation of the property if properly advertised as heritage building. The Corporate houses may use these heritage buildings to promote their image as protector of heritage value of the city. One can avail oneself of the national or international funds for the maintenance of such heritage buildings if properly approached through Conservation Architect. Compatible re-use of the building may be permitted for commercial benefits. In some special cases property tax may be reduced / exempted under Section 425 K of KMC Act, 1980.

l) Contact persons for further information

i) Chief Municipal Architect and Town Planner
1, Hogg Street, Kolkata - 700 087
Phone No. 2244-7606, 2244-3471 (Extn. 2501)

ii) Municipal Architect and Town Planner
1, Hogg Street, Kolkata - 700 087
Phone No. 2244-3471 (Extn. 2571)

3. Heritage Conservation Committee is constituted with the following members in addition to the Municipal Commissioner as Chairman and as Officer of the corporation and its convenor.

i) one shall be nominee of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority
ii) one shall be the Director of the Development of Archaeology, Government of West Bengal, or his nominee.
iii) One shall be an eminent architect,
iv) One shall be an artist,
v) One shall be an environmentalist,
vi) One shall be a historian, and
vii) One shall be the Chief Valuer and Surveyor of the Corporation.

For information and perusal of the owners of heritage buildings the extracts of the relevant provisions of the K.M.C. Act 1980 are re-produced below:

Preservation and Conservation of Heritage Buildings

425A. Owner to maintain, preserve and conserve heritage building: Every owner or occupier of any heritage building declared as such by the Corporation shall maintain, preserve and conserve it and shall not change its use in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules or the regulations made there under for its maintenance, preservation or conservation.

Explanation I - The word "maintain", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall include fencing, covering, repairing, restoring or cleansing, or doing of any act which may be necessary for the purpose of preserving or conserving, of, or securing convenient access to, a heritage building.

Explanation II - "Owner" shall, notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, include, for the purposes of this chapter, -

a) a joint owner of a heritage building vested with the power of management thereof on behalf of himself and any other joint owner, or successor-in-title of any such joint owner, or
b) a manager, or trustee, vested with the power of management of a heritage building, or successor-in-office of such manager or trustee.