Powers and functions of Heritage Conservation Committee : The Heritage Conservation Committee shall have the power to function independent of the Municipal Building Committee for purpose of preservation, conservation and maintenance of heritage buildings in so far as such power does not offend any other provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder relating to construction or use of building :
Provided that for erection or re-erection in a heritage building or part thereof, or for restoration of any heritage building to its old shape, design or beauty in the case of unlawful demolition, or for making any change of internal or external wall, structural pattern, floor, roof, interior or exterior architectural floor, facade or skyline, or for any other change, or a heritage building, the provisions of chapters XXII and XXIII of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Power of Corporation to require, purchase or take on lease heritage building : Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Corporation may acquire, purchase or take on lease any heritage building for the purpose of preservation and conservation thereof :
Provided that in the case of a heritage building declared as such for the purpose of preservation and conservation as required under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 31 of the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act, 1979 (West Ben. Act XIII of 1979), the approval of the concerned department of the State Government shall be taken.

Transfer of right of development for the purpose of acquisition by agreement : When the owner of any heritage building is not willing to preserve or conserve any heritage building, the Municipal Commissioner may, for the purpose of acquisition of such heritage building by agreement and on the recommendation of the Heritage Conservation Committee and with the approval of the Mayor-in-Council, allow the transfer of right of development of such heritage building, which shall be heritable and transferable, to the owner of such heritage building in such manner, and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed.

Right of access to heritage building acquired by Corporation : Subject to such rules or regulations as may be made under this Act, every person shall have the right of access to any heritage building acquired by the Corporation.

Sub-lease of heritage building : The Corporation shall have the right to allow the transfer of right of development to the lessee of a heritage building where the unexpired period of the term of lease is for 90 years, and to take the heritage building on sub-lease by agreement, if there is provision for such sub-lease in the deed executed between the owner and the lessee, provided that the question of payment of premium or rent in such case to the owner shall not, notwithstanding any agreement in this behalf, arise, and if the owner as confirming party to the agreement waives the right to receive any further payment of such premium or rent.

Permission of concerned department of State Government before acquisition of heritage building : If the Corporation considers that it is necessary to acquire any building declared as a heritage building for the purpose of preservation and conservation as required under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 31 of the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act. 1979, by agreement or under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894), permission of the concerned Department of the State Government shall be taken before such acquisition.

Power to exempt rates and taxes, etc. on heritage building : If the owner of a heritage building enters into an agreement with the Corporation to maintain, preserve and conserve such heritage building properly at his own expenses, the Corporation may, in such case, exempt wholly or partly the owner of such heritage building from payment of rates of taxes or fees for supply of water or any other charge in respect of such heritage building.

The Municipal Commissioner may, pending acquisition of a heritage building by the Corporation under this Act and with the approval of the Mayor-in-Council, propose to the owner of such heritage building to enter into an agreement with the Corporation for a specified period for the maintenance of such heritage building.

The Municipal Commissioner may receive voluntary contributions towards the cost of maintaining any heritage building and may give order as to the management and application of such contributions for the purpose of preservation and conservation of such heritage building.

Subject to the approval of the Mayor-in-Council, the Municipal Commissioner may enter into any agreement with any person or voluntary organisation or company, whether incorporated or not, willing to preserve and conserve any heritage building on such terms and conditions as the Municipal Commissioner may determine.