The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has raised objections to a new structure being set up to sell coconut products close to Chandragiri hillock in Shravanabelagola.
The district administration had taken up work to encourage coconut growers of Hassan during Mahamastakabhisheka, the head anointment of Gomateshwara statue, to be held next month.
V.R. Nagaraj, conservation assistant, ASI Hassan sub-circle, on January 3 wrote to the Hassan Nirmithi Kendra objecting to the construction of Kalpamrutha, a coco-hut, near Chandragiri. In his letter, the officer said that as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010, a radius of 100 m around the monument is prohibited area and another 200 m is restricted area. “The structure is within 5 m of the monument. Construction should be stopped immediately and clearance should be taken from regional director of ASI,” he said.
The district administration, in association with Coconut Growers’ Cooperative Federation, has decided to promote coconut products under the brand – Kalpamrutha. The federation plans to set up its outlets in big cities and vacant places along the highways. One such outlet was planned near Chandragiri.
Besides, the ASI has raised objections to providing lifts in the scaffolding erected atop Vindhyagiri, where the Gomateshwara statue is located. As per the plan, the Public Works Department had proposed three lifts and the ASI had objected to two of them. It also asked the PWD to get the safety certification of the scaffolding from institutions like NIT, IIT or National Institute of Rock Mechanics. The Superintending Archaeologist has written to the PWD in this regard.
When Special Officer of Mahamastakabhisheka B.N. Varaprasad Reddy was contacted, he said the authorities would respond to the objections raised by the ASI.
Meanwhile, the farming community has come out in support of the district administration. “Kalpamrutha aims to boost the confidence of coconut growers, who have been suffering because of the dip in the yield. The outlet planned in Shravanabelagola is the first and it will not disturb Chandragiri,” said Putte Gowda, a coconut grower in Channarayapatna.
