KOLKATA: With realtors encroaching upon heritage properties flouting the norms, the National Monument Authority (NMA) swung into action on Monday carrying out raids and lodging FIRs with the Hare Street police against two such alleged constructions within the prohibited zone of a protected national monument in the city - the Magen David Synagogue.

The NMA officers have also ordered to clear access to the monument, taken over by hawkers at Canning Street in Burrabazar.

The NMA rule says that the 100-meter radius of a national monument should be treated as 'prohibited zone.' No construction is allowed in this zone without the permission of the NMA. Even Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), in such cases, can't issue permission without the no-objection-certificate (NoC) from the NMA. The next 200-meter area is regulated zone. In the first 100 meters, the NMA allows new construction only in the rarest of rare occasion.

"The FIR was lodged against two owners of these buildings - Samir Gupta of 33, Canning Street (Rashbehari Bose Street) and Nandu Sonkar of 20/ANS Road - by conservation assistant S C Bhakta. If any violation is proved, the buildings, one of which is under construction, will be razed. Both the owners have been served notices also," said Dr Phanikanta Mishra , competent authority on heritage by-laws and regional director of Archeological Survey of India (Eastern region).

Surprisingly, no FIR was lodged before and after the construction of one of the buildings. "The construction of the building should have been stopped. Now, the probe will reveal who was at fault in allowing such construction," said Mishra. Mayor Sovon Chatterjee said, "I am not aware of it."

Debi Prasad Market, a wholesale market for glass bangles that came up at the place, of its old gutted avatar at 33, Canning Street, defies the 'rarest of the rare' logic. "Its construction started in 2007 and completed in 2010. We were not aware of the law," said Dhanesh Pandey, manager of the market, after consulting with owner Samir Gupta. So was the reply from those in charge of the under-construction building owned by Nandu Sonkar.

The second building might fall within the regulated zone, said an ASI officer. Worse, is the complete non-existence of the right of way to the majestic synagogue.

Mishra asked his team members to talk to the police so that access to the synagogue can be made clear. The entrance to the synagogue compound is hidden behind makeshift stalls selling hairclips and other trinkets. Several foreigners as well as Indian tourists take immense interest in these synagogues, yet their attempts to enter the same get badly rebuffed by the encroachers and squatters.

"I have written two letters to the commissioner of the city police and the commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation," added Mishra.The synagogue was built in 1884 by Elias David Joseph Ezra in memory of his father David Joseph Ezra, who made his fortune in the real estate trade of Kolkata.Elias David Joseph Ezra is associated with some of the well-known buildings of Kolkata including the Esplanade Mansion, Ezra Mansion and Chowringhee Mansion. The Ezra Street is also named after him.

Built in the Italian Renaissance style with a brick red finish. The Magen David Synagogue is approached through an arched door, containing the hexagonal "Star of David" and Hebrew inscription. The two side walls contains memorial plaques dedicated to the well known Jews of Kolkata. Although the services of the Magen David Synagogue have long stopped but the interior are astonishingly well maintained. The chequered marble floor, gleaming chandeliers, stained glass windows and ornate floral pillars shipped from Paris enhance its Continental look. The altar of the Magen David Synagogue is crowned with an Apse (Half Dome) studded with stars. It represents the heaven. The large plaque in the middle contain the "Ten Commandments." It also contains several other Hebrew inscription along with several other items of Jewish Iconography, including the seven branched lamp stand of Menorah. High above the wall opposite the altar is a beautiful circular stained glass. At the centre of the hall is a raised podium from where the Rabbi preached. Two sets of stairs from either side of the hall leads to the upper balconies, reserved for women.

