Illegal constructions violate the Hampi Master Plan prepared by the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority as part of its mandate to protect the World Heritage Site and regulate development in the Local Planning Area. The fact that the authorities are doing little to check illegal construction is leading to speculation that the tourism lobby could be hand-in-glove with politicians to subdue the Authority's rules to convert farm land for commercial purposes and build star hotels and resorts in Hampi to attract foreign tourists at the cost of the heritage site, Shivakumar G. Malagi throws light on the unhealthy developments in Hampi
They are a declared world heritage site and a huge tourism attraction, but the Hampi ruins remain under threat from illegal constructions and unauthorised restaurants mushrooming in their so-called protected zone right under the nose of the authorities, which are meant to keep them safe from such encroachments.
The latest threat is from a tarred road being laid next to the ancient Kamalapur tank dating back to the Vijayanagar period despite strong objection from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and UNESCO.
The illegal constructions clearly violate the Hampi Master Plan prepared by the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) as part of its mandate to protect the heritage site and regulate development in the Local Planning Area.
The fact that the authorities are doing little to check them despite this is leading to speculation that the tourism lobby could be hand in glove with local politicians to subdue the rules of HWHAMA to cash in on the huge scope for converting agriculture land into non-agriculture and build star hotels and resorts in the vicinity of Hampi and make a fast buck offering luxurious hospitality to rich foreign tourists at the cost of the heritage site.
Under the master plan, no development is permitted in ecologically sensitive areas like river islands, tank beds, forests and the river front near the heritage site. But ignoring this, attempts are being made to build new structures on the Hemakuta hill that offers a scenic view of the sunrise and sunset, and a panoramic view of Hampi.
Only on March 22 this year, HWHAMA had demolished new structures coming up on the hill, but the construction resumed soon afterwards and on Friday it issued a notice to Srimad Ramachandra Ashram asking it to call a halt to more construction in the area or face legal action. The authority has an uphill task controlling the mushrooming of illegal buildings on the hill as it already has at least a 100 other structures that have no right to be there.
At the heritage site itself, the bund of the Kamalapur tank is being divided for widening a 2-km stretch of the state highway-49 despite opposition from the ASI and a notice issued by UNESCO, New Delhi to the Commissioner, HWHAMA on September 8 this year , pointing out that the work was being pursued without the endorsement of the ASI.
“We would appreciate receiving a detailed situation report on this road widening and trust we will find a solution before the matter gets reported to the World Heritage Committee for its scrutiny” UNESCO warned in its notice.
But when contacted, Ms. Moe Chiba, section chief for culture, UNESCO, New Delhi said it had so far not received the detailed situation report asked for from HWHAMA, showing its lack of concern for conservation of the 15th century heritage site of the Vijayanagar empire. Surprisingly, none of the government departments, including ASI, HWHAMA or the Public Works Department are willing to claim responsibility for laying of the tarred road.
Recalling that a bypass road was proposed in the master plan from Galemma Temple to Bukkasagar via Hampi Kannada University Road, to divert traffic from the ancient tank bund, former Director General of the ASI, K.P. Poonacha insists that the authorities stick to this plan and avoid distorting the original character of the tank. But no one seems willing to listen and the fear is Hampi will be ruined for lack of interest by the authorities to protect it.
