Ballari: A tarred road in the vicinity of the ancient Kamalapur tank dating back to the glorious days of the Vijayanagar empire? Even Unesco could not fail to take note of this monstrosity which has shocked history lovers.
The bund of the tank is being divided for widening a 2-km stretch of State Highway-49. "The work is being executed only during night, this is sure to ruin sluices supplying water to agricultural fields," said farmer M. Ramesh, who owns a banana plantation nearby.
Surprisingly, no one is owning up to laying the road. PWD executive engineer, Ballari, Mr Tilak Kumar said, "Last year itself, I told my subordinates to stop work after the ASI objected. I don't know who is doing the work now".
When this was brought to the notice of Ms Moe Chiba, programme specialist for culture, UNESCO, New Delhi, she said, "I will take this up with the Unesco headquarters in Paris".
Sources said the tourism lobby in league with local politicians, is getting the road laid so that they can convert agricultural land and build star hotels and resorts.
