Guwahati, March 30 -- The demolition of Mahafezkhana, a historic land records office dating back to British colonial rule in Assam, has sparked a debate over the preservation of heritage structures in Guwahati.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) razed the more than 160-year-old building as part of the Brahmaputra riverfront beautification project, without any prior consultation with the city's residents.

Constructed between 1855 and 1865, Mahafezkhana stood as a testament to early colonial-era engineering.

This substantial brick and corrugated sheet structure, measuring 86 ft x 77 ft, featured imposing iron entry gates, 20-inch thick walls, and a continuous covered verandah, designed to provide enhanced protection....