Security being stepped up at Hampi world heritage site

Security is being stepped up at the UNESCO world heritage site of Hampi and neighbouring ancient site of Anegundi on the banks of the river Tungabhadra with the installation of closed-circuit television cameras.

The process of installing CCTV cameras have begun at six prime locations in Hampi, including the entrance to Kamalapura, at Hampi juction, the Veerupaskha Temple and the Vijay Vittal Temple.

Twentysix more locations have been identified for the cameras at both Hampi and Anegundi, the cradle city of the Vijaynagar empire (1336-1646),  a Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) official said.

The CCTV cameras in 10 locations which have poor power supply, will have a solar power back-up. A proposal has already been sent to the Union Ministry of Non-Renewable Energy to secure funds requested,the official said.

The cameras will cover sensitive locations like the Mohammadian Tombs in Purandara Mantapa and the Ugra Narasinha which anti-social elements have tried to deface in the past to provoke communal trouble.