Authorities against relief for ‘Hampi’ encroachers
Land ownership to be determined on the basis of a 1956 document
The fate of 237 families evicted from the Teru Bazaar in front of Virupaksha temple in Hampi hangs in balance as the authorities concerned are of the firm opinion that “encroachers” cannot be compensated.
The argument of the non governmental organisations that all the evicted families should be rehabilitated on humanitarian grounds has not gone down well with the Government. While the High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a re-survey of the number of families, the authorities are of the opinion that only “genuine owners” should be compensated.
The Government has based its argument on the list of ‘patta holders,’ the only available document to determine ownership. According to the grant order issued by then revenue commissioner of Madras Province in 1956, only 36 persons have been permitted to occupy the mantapas in front of the temple.
Except six or seven leaseholders, the rest have either sub-let or sold their land.
“The exact number of unauthorised occupants or displaced persons will be known only after the debris are cleared,” said G S Narasimhan, Superintending Archaeologist, Bangalore Circle, ASI. The High Court has posted the hearing to next week.
Officials who spoke to Deccan Herald said that the Supreme Court too had ruled that encroachers need not be compensated.
They claimed that much damage had been caused to the heritage monument with the mushrooming of “illegal” shops in a span of three decades.
Unesco concern
Hampi has been listed as a World Heritage Site, and Unesco had expressed concern over illegal constructions and social housing projects encroaching the boundary of the ancient ruins. The activities, according to Unesco, “appeared to have a negative impact on the integrity of the landscape.”
The High Court too has directed removal of illegal and unauthorised constructions on the heritage site following a public interest litigation by Sri Kotturu Swamy Kalyana Kendra and others in 2009.
The 36 patta holders according to the list are: P Balasubba Setty; Gooty Thotappa; Sitra Somappa; Siddamsetty Ramappa; Siddamsetty Narayanappa; Geetha Ashram; Bellary Seethamma; P Subramanya Setty; Bhoopalam Sivappa/Krishnamurthi and others; Vastarada Sambaiah; Jutur Chandrappa; Rajaputra Rajanna; Meti Basavana Gouda; Kelasor Jadiyappa; Mahanthi Mutt; Reddy Jambana Gouda; Karanam Neelakanta Rao; Kaligi Pompanna; Shankara Bharathi Mutt; Shankaracharya Temple; Kalamma Gudi; P Balasubba Setty; Lakshminarasappa and T Ramaiah; P Nagappa; P Gowraji Bai; Bukkasagara Mutt; Govidavada Ayyappa; Kasali Basappa; V Basayya; Gangavathi Venkobanna; Veerabasappa; R Ramachar and Sadaruddin; A Rajasahib; Kurugodu Neelamma; Mulangi Doddabasappa and Kudurimothi Kotrappa.
