According to Bhattacharjee, the proposed excavation work at Deka and Hatpara will bring clarity in the understanding of historical processes and their material bearing in this part of the state.

Besides undertaking exploration in South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad districts, the directorate will also carry out an exploration in the western region of the river Bhagirathi in the coming year.

The West Bengal heritage commission has so far identified 102 monuments and taken up 43 cases of conservation and restoration work to be executed through various rural and urban civic bodies.

'Conservation of 16 cases has since been completed, while in other cases progress is at different stages towards completion,' the chief minister said.