HC asks govt to clarify stand on rehab of Hampi evacuees
The High Court on Tuesday directed the State and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to clarify their stand on rehabilitating the encroachers in Hampi.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also sought to know the number of days it would take to resettle them.
The Bench suggested that the people evicted could be compensated by paying them a cash amount.
Expressing its concern over the heritage site, the Court observed that Hampi was a heritage site and it should be saved.
The Bench was unhappy over the delay in releasing Rs 18.5 crore meant for rehabilitation of the displaced people, when the State was spending huge amounts for the annual festival.
On being informed by the State that the rehabilitation was being undertaken through the National Rehabilitation Plan, the court suggested that the State pay the entire amount now and later claim the amount from the Central government.
Assistant Commissioner of Hospet, Karigowda informed the court that 9.5 acres of land had been reserved for the rehabilitation, but the State was yet to release the amount. Around 236 mantapas on ‘ratha beedhi’ (car street) in front of the Virupaksha temple had been encroached and 80 per cent of the people had obtained khatas in their name.
Twelve years ago, Unesco, which had included a 41 sq-km area in Hampi and its surroundings in the World Heritage list, had recommended that encroachments and unauthorised buildings in the area be cleared, failing which, the heritage status would be withdrawn.
A proposal on handing over a 15.9 sq-km area - comprising the Virupaksha temple, the ‘salumantapa’ in front of the temple, car street and the Basavanna temple - which was under the State archaeology department to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was submitted in 2003.
The High Court had also ordered that the encroachments be cleared following which around 250 families who had shops on the premises were vacated from the place.
