Following strong objections from the Department of Archaeology and Museum and social activists, the State Government issued a corrigendum on handing over three acres of land in Buddhist site of Thotlakonda, an archaeologically protected site, to the Indian Navy.
In response to a request by Navy to lay a road at Thotlakonda to provide access to its site where it wanted to develop certain facilities, the Department of Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture had issued GO Rt. No. 37 dated January 18, 2012. Following furore, the same department issued another order GO Rt. No. 143 on March 2 stating that instead of transferring the land, the Navy had been given permission to lay a 60 ft. road to be used by both Navy and the Department of Archaeology and Museum.
The revised order said: “Government after careful examination of the matter hereby accord permission to the Director, Archaeology and Museums to allow the Indian Navy Force to construct and maintain 60' wide road through the Thotlakonda, Buddhist site, Protected Monument of the Department of Archaeology & Museums, Andhra Pradesh to be used commonly by both the parties i.e. Indian Navy & the Department of Archaeology & Museums in consultation with the Department of Archaeology & Museums and the rights of the property will be only with the Department of Archaeology & Museums.”
