Renovated Writers' Building could be green building, suggests concept plan

Water bodies harvesting rain water, green spaces dotting the landscape and solar panels put up on the roof -- the Writers' Buildings, the seat of the West Bengal government and now undergoing repairs and restoration work, will be a green building once the renovation of the iconic 18th century structure has been completed, said informed sources.

The experts of Jadavpur University and Bengal Engineering and Science University, requisitioned by the state government, have submitted a concept plan which aims to bring down the carbon footprint and turn Writers' into a green building.

"We are working on lowering the carbon footprint and put in place active and passive features to ensure energy efficiency. Our plan is to apply for green building rating from appropriate agencies," said a Jadavpur University professor associated with the preparation of the concept plan.

Madhumita Roy, head of the Jadavpur University's department of architecture, said they had submitted the concept plan to the state government earlier this month.

"We want to ensure improved ventilation and creation of a proper ambience befitting a modern day secretariat. We have suggested demolition of structures constructed after the Second World War," she said.

The roof would have solar panels for ensuring energy efficiency. There would be arrangements for wastewater recycling.

The Mamata Banerjee government decided to shift the state secretariat out of the Writers' - from where the British once ruled India - to allow restoration of the heritage complex, which over time has become a "tinderbox" with a disaster waiting to happen.

"Nabanna", a high rise structure in neighbouring Howrah district, has become the temporary seat of the government.

The facelift of the red edifice, built around 1780, is part of Banerjee's "London dreams"- her grand idea of sprucing up the eastern metropolis on the lines of the British capital.

Designed by Thomas Lyon, Writers' was constructed on behalf of Richard Barwell, a council member during Warren Hastings' tenure as governor general. The property remained in private hands till 1854 when the East India Company bought it officially.