While the city dwellers are demanding steps to protect the historical structure, Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu laid the foundation stone of the new plant at the water works site at Hatim Khan in the city on Friday.

The authorities have already floated tender notice to put the building and the ancient water pumps and water supply equipment on auction. The last date for submitting tenders is July 7.

The conscious people want that the new water plant to be set up somewhere else and called on the city dwellers to unite for a movement to protect the historical heritage.

"Why do the authorities want to demolish a structure with historical importance? Is it because of lack of space as the BNP leaders have grabbed most lands in the city?" said Zamat Khan, convenor of Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad (Action council for the protection of Rajshahi).

The 'Queen Hemanta Kumari Water Works' were set up in 1937 on a piece of land donated by Rajshahi Zila Board.

Queen Hemanta Kumari of Puthia donated Tk 2.50 lakh for the unique water supply network for the then Rajshahi municipality.

A number of roadside taps, locally known as dhopkol, were installed at different points of municipality area as part of the network, which are still in operation. But most of them were damaged due to lack of proper care and maintenance.

According to historians, dhopkols are rare these days. Only a few similar taps are found at Shiliguri in India.

Laying the foundation stone of the new water plant, Mayor Minu said that the plant will treat water from the Padma and supply the safe water to 60 percent of city dwellers.

RCC Chief Engineer Sarit Dutta Gupta said the new plant would be named after Queen Hemanta Kumari to preserve her memory and the equipment of old plant would be given to the Barind Research Museum.