Hampi tragedy: Co-ordination in ruins
Ancient footsteps of Mathanga hill being reconstructed with modern slabs
By : Shivakumar G. Malagi
Update: 2015-04-29 07:13 GMT
Ballari: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), state archaeology department and Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) are the three principle authorities meant for conservation of UNESCO world heritage site-Hampi.
However, the lack of coordination between these three authorities is proving disastrous for the world heritage site. After the controversial construction of a concrete road on the ancient Kamalapura tank bund which falls within the core zone of the heritage site, state archaeology department and HWHAMA have begun construction of footsteps at the ancient Mathanga hills, a protected monument of the archaeology department, using cement and stone blocks throwing norms to the winds.
ASI, Hampi authorities have objected to the construction of the footsteps to reach the hill that is over 500 feet high. An agreement entered into by the authorities concerned approving the construction of the footsteps says the footsteps existed in ancient times and now, many of them had sunk causing inconvenience.
"Hence, there is a need to reconstruct the footsteps by using available ancient stone slabs in the same manner as it was constructed in the Vijayanagar era", stated the document which has however been violated by using cement and fresh stone slabs. The archaeology department has allegedly engaged workers of Land Army Corporation and started construction of footsteps.