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Cotton all set to become Heritage College

By Ajit Patowary

GUWAHATI, Sept 22 - Historic Cotton College is stepping forward to become a Heritage College with several of its buildings being conserved as Heritage Buildings. These buildings are under the process of archaeological conservation.

The Assam Branch of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is doing the conservation works that are estimated to cost around Rs 4.35 crore. The University Grants Commission (UGC) last year extended the financial support for the purpose to develop the college into a Heritage College, together with the other 18 colleges of the country. The amount granted for Cotton College for the purpose is the highest amount granted by the UGC for this purpose.

INTACH Assam Branch convenor Jayanta Sarma told this newspaper that already the Old Chemistry Building of the 115-year-old College, which was built in 1901, has been undertaken for conservation along with the Junior Gallery (original laboratory) attached to it.

The ambitious exercise initiated by the Cotton College authorities sometime back, got the UGC nod and the Assam Branch of the INTACH was engaged as the executor of the project. The conservation work started in July this year. The entire exercise involves conservation of four buildings of the college and they include - the Old Chemistry Building together with the Junior Gallery, the Senior Chemistry Gallery, the Principal�s Residence and the KK Handiqui Boys� Hostel, said Sarma.

It needs mention here that the INTACH State Branch has already completed conservation work of the New Arts Building and the Coal Gas Plant of the Chemistry Department of Cotton College. However, for the conservation of the New Arts Building of the College, an assistance comprising an amount of Rs 12 lakh was extended by the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Sarma said.

The INTACH has now started the ground work for the conservation of the Principal�s Residence of the College, which was constructed in 1883-1884, said Sarma, adding, conservation work for the KK Handiqui Boys� Hostel Building is proposed to be started within the next two to three months.

While conserving the Old Chemistry Building and Laboratories, the INTACH State Branch has kept the old fittings intact, he informed.

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