The Hindu : New Delhi News : Fresh hope for Krishnadevaraya's Capital

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 28, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Fresh hope for Krishnadevaraya's Capital

Mandira Nayar

NEW DELHI: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is hoping to get Hampi in Karnataka off the list of UNESCO World Heritage in Danger within a year. With Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni visiting Hampi this Friday along with UNESCO representatives to talk to all the stakeholders in the project and review the measures taken, officials believe it will bring them one step closer to achieving this aim.

An important historic site -- the last Capital of the last great Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar -- Hampi had been put on the endangered list in 1999 because two suspension bridges were being built, which threatened the World Heritage site's integrity by bringing in heavy traffic.

However, six years and numerous international missions later, ASI officials believe that they have found an acceptable solution to the problems.

"UNESCO was worried that there would been greater urbanisation to the entire side due to the two bridges that were being built over Tungabhadra. The suggestions made by them in various missions have been noted. The design of the bridge has been changed. The by-pass road has also been moved away from the site, as well as traffic restrictions will be put in," said ASI Director-General C. Babu Rajeev.

A management plan for Hampi, which has been drawn up with help of experts in the field, has also been drawn up and is being implemented. But conservationists believe that while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go and it might be too early to celebrate just as yet.

With important issues brought up by UNESCO officials like inadequate protection of heritage resources, poor new architecture that has sprung up around the site as well as questions about uncontrolled development, still to be dealt in a comprehensive way, the focus of the ASI should be to ensure that management plan is fully working feel conservationists.

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