Patna, May 15: Amid a raging debate on heritage versus development, noted historians have urged the Bihar government to preserve the Patna Collectorate, saying the over 200-year-old building complex is "architecturally unique" and as important as the city's veritable symbol Golghar.

The fresh appeal from scholars comes days after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had sought opinions from experts on whether the Collectorate should be preserved or not.

"If the government thinks that the Collectorate building's historicity is merely that it was once a Dutch-era opium godown, then it reflects a very myopic vision on their part about the history of the building as well as the city. The fact that they are of Dutch and British period, and endowed with unique architecture, warrant enough reasons for their preservation," city-based historian Surendra Gopal told .

The 80-year-old scholar, author of "Patna in the 19th Century", says, "After the Dutch left Patna, the British reused their factories as Collectorate and other purposes, so why can't the Bihar government do so."

According to District Magistrate Sanjay Agarwal, whose office is located in one of the British-era buildings sitting next to the Dutch-era Record Room, "It (Record Room) was merely used as a godown during the Dutch period. We don't think there is more history to the Collectorate."

Countering his opinion Gopal says, "It is sad the government takes such a dim view of history. Even the Patna College's main administrative block was a Dutch opium godown, and the 1786-built Golghar, now a prime tourist attraction, was a granary. The Collectorate too can be adaptively reused keeping its architectural integrity intact."

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Though the fate of the Collectorate still hangs in balance, the government's rethinking the demolition decision has lent a glimmer of hope for heritage lovers across the city and Bihar that the landmark will be spared the wrecking ball.