Probe ordered into irregularities in 'Hampi by Night' project

The district administration has recently ordered Hosapete assistant commissioner to investigate the irregularities delay in the implementation of the controversial ‘Hampi by Night’ project taken up at a cost of Rs 11.50 crore five years go.

A committee led by assistant commissioner M Pavanakumar has already started the investigation. It has written a letter to the government’s chief accounts officer to give the details of the money released for the project.“We are conducting a thorough probe into illegalities said to be committed in ‘Hampi by Night’ project.

We will probe all the angles and submit a report to the deputy commissioner,” Kumar said. The then BJP government started this project in 2010 to allow tourists to visit Hampi’s historical sites when G Janardhana Reddy was the tourism minister.

The project

Bengaluru-based Innovative Lighting System was entrusted with the implementation of the project. The company had even conducted experimental shows at some sites.
However, the then deputy commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas ordered the company to halt the work, charging that it was not eligible for the project and was also using substandard equipment.

He had even taken some lighting equipment into custody. Two years ago, he had written a letter to the tourism department secretary seeking a probe into the issue. But the department has not replied to the letter so far.

Not delayed, says firm

Meanwhile, the company said there is no question of delay in the project implementation. The company’s project director and actor Jayanthi’s son Krishnakumar said they had bagged the contract to instal lighting system at 23 sites at Hampi.

“The Archeological Survey of India has given permission to instal lighting system at 18 sites only. The work has been completed at these sites and 60 shows have been organised already. We welcome the investigation and we are hopeful that the project will be implemented completely after the probe,” he added.