Hampi is gearing up for a new look. The State Government has prepared a master plan to chalk out the overall development of the world heritage site. Once the plan is implemented, the core archeological area (25 sq km) that houses the monuments will be a pedestrian zone, where only bicycles, tongas and battery-operated rickshaws are allowed.

A 100-meter area surrounding each monument will be acquired by the archeological Survey of India (ASI). No commercial and developmental activities will be taken up in the core archeological area. The HWHAMA has proposed to clear shops functioning in mantapas in front of the Virupaksha temple. As many as 118 people have occupied the mantapas illegally.

The master plan has also raised objections to holding the annual Hampi Utsav celebrations in the Virupaksha temple premises. The celebrations in front of the temple will be limited to the Rath Yatra, while the post-Rath Yatra festivities will be held out of the core area.

Many unidentified monuments are found in lands cultivated by local farmers. Tourists miss these monuments as they are not seen to the outer world. One such monument can be seen in a banana farm behind the elephant stable (Aanelaaya). The sanctum sanctorum of the temple/monument has been damaged.

Dr Mogalli Ganesh, who is studying the intangible heritage of the area, said that the hunt for treasure in the monuments is continuing in large scale in Hampi and its surrounding areas. “Particularly on full-moon and amavasye days, people search for treasure in the monuments and damage them. As there is no mechanism to guard monuments in private lands, the search for treasure is going on unabatedly,” he said.

With the implementation of the proposals made in the master plan, farmers on whose land monuments are located have to give away their land. Villagers of Kaddirampura, Hampi, Anegundi and Kamalapura will be affected by these proposals as parts of them come under the core area.

However, common people are not aware of the details of the master plan. Deputy Commissioner Aravind Srivastav held public meeting in three villages — Hampi, Kamalapura and Kaddirampura — which come under the Hampi heritage site limits.

Seetharam Singh, president, Kamalapura Ryots’ Association, said the deputy commissioner informed the public only about the positive aspects of the master plan, while carefully omitting information as to how shoppers and farmers will suffer.

Why the master plan?

The State Government decided to prepare the master plan for Hampi after the UNESCO took serious exception to the suspension bridge on Tungabhadra river.

The government assured the UNESCO that it would take up comprehensive development of the site. Thus the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) was set up and the master plan was prepared. The plan was made public on July 9, 2007 and two months’ time was given for filing objections. Till date, as many as 134 objections have been filed.

Master Plan Highlights

*Heritage area consists of 29 villages and one town.

*Heritage area is divided into three zones - core, buffer and peripheral.

*Evict shops in front of the Virupaksha temple.

*100 meters area around monuments is prohibited area.

*Complete Anegundi bridge works; heavy vehicles shall not be allowed.

*Hampi Utsav not in front of the Virupaksha temple.

*Houses within 45 meters from the Tungabhadra River shall be evicted.

I M Vittalamurthy,
secretary, Tourism
Department, says...

*There is strong public opposition to the master plan.

Yes, I agree. The master plan has been prepared in consultation with the UNESCO. However, there are some objections to the plan. But the State has to take certain measures for the overall development of the world heritage site.

*Don’t you think shifting of shops from Ratha Beedhi would affect the shop-owners’ livelihood?

The plan does not oppose shops that are necessary for devotees who come to the temple. However, today the street bears the look of a commercial street rather than that of the historical Ratha Beedhi. They will be shifted to the interpretation centre, where a commercial complex will come up.

*Locals allege that the Tourism Department constructs toilets by digging the ground next to monuments while common people are not allowed to take up renovation of their buildings in the heritage site area.

Toilets are necessary for tourists. Normally, toilets in heritage sites are constructed underground so that they don’t affect the monuments. I do agree that the public has not been allowed to take up renovation of their structures for the last four years. Now the plan is ready. Once the final notification is issued, people can take up renovation and construction as per the master plan.