Visva-Bharati, police, residents and state government officials held a meeting on Friday to outline a plan to save Santiniketan’s core area, which was announced as a world heritage site by Unesco in September last year.

Close to a year after being bestowed the honour, the varsity authorities are struggling to protect the tag as no major steps on preservation and conservation have been taken.

A source said uncontrolled movement of traffic and tourists, heavy vehicles passing through roads close to the heritage area, unplanned parking and lack of management are threatening several monuments, houses and sculptures that come under the heritage site.

Friday’s meeting, held at the office of the sub-divisional police officer of Bolpur, was convened following several communications from the varsity authorities to the state government requesting its intervention and involvement to protect the heritage site.

“There are clear instructions from Unesco to take multiple measures and plan to protect the world heritage site. Today’s meeting was to address many issues, including controlling the movement of vehicles on the roads that pass through the core ashram areas. Carbon-emitting heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, are the prime challenge for us,” said Ashok Mahato, the acting registrar of Visva-Bharati.

“A six-member joint inspection team comprising the police, government, and varsity officials was formed, and the members will visit different areas on August 6 to take proper action. We are happy with the outcome of the meeting,” he added.

Several officials said heavy vehicles plying on the campus roads were one of the major issues as they generated vibrations that threatened the sculptures and old houses.

There are sculptures of Ramkinkar Baij and century-old houses, including five houses of Rabindranath Tagore, beside the road that passes through the campus. Santiniketan Griha, the oldest house where the Tagore family used to live, and the glass-made Upasana Griha are located beside the same stretch.

Despite Visva-Bharati building two bypasses to divert traffic, the movement of cars and heavy vehicles has not stopped. “Even before Unesco declared the area a world heritage site, the Archaeological Survey of India advised us to take such measures. As the two major roads passing through the core area are under the Public Works Department (PWD) of the state government, the varsity authorities could not control traffic there,” said a senior varsity official.

“We are also preparing a robust tourist management plan, which is a must for every world heritage site. We need the help of the state government to implement it,” he added.

During the meeting, every possible threat was discussed, and the officials decided to continue joint meetings to draw up plans to develop the heritage area. “We discussed various aspects of the development and protection of the world heritage site in Santiniketan. We will conduct more meetings to resolve the existing issues,” said Rickey Agarwal, the subdivisional police officer of Bolpur.

Anil Konar, honorary secretary of Santiniketan Trust and a veteran resident, said the administration would also ensure that the movement of residents is not restricted.

“It is our duty to protect the world heritage site. The administration ensured that they would take care of the issues of local residents. We appreciate the fact that the state government came forward to protect our Santiniketan,” said Konar.