The Hindu : Unesco commends Hampi project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Unesco commends Hampi project

By Our Staff Correspondent

HAMPI May 3. ``Hampi is a magnificent site. It is an important heritage site not only for Karnataka and India but also for the world, and needs to be preserved,'' Minja Yang, Deputy Director of Unesco, has said.

Ms. Yang, along with Paul Trouilloud, architect and Unesco consultant, today started a three-day visit to Hampi to assess the measures initiated by the Government to preserve, conserve, and develop the Hampi World Heritage Site, which has been placed in the list of "World Heritage Site in Danger" by Unesco.

In a brief chat with presspersons here today, Ms. Yang expressed her appreciation with regard to the steps being taken by the Government to implement the suggestions made by Unesco to preserve the World Heritage Site. "For the past two years, the authorities have been making a lot of efforts in this regard. Much more needs to be done to preserve this important heritage area,'' she said.

Ms. Yang, answering a question, said Hampi could be removed from the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger if the situation improved. As of now, the authorities had been doing their best, and if the trend continued, Hampi would be removed from the "danger list", she added.

Both Ms. Yang and Mr. Trouilloud, who are on their first visit to Hampi, were given a warm and traditional welcome in front of the Virupaksha Temple. The temple elephant garlanded both of them, and they were taken inside the temple for darshan.

Later, the team, accompanied by C.S. Kedar, Secretary, Kannada and Culture, Poonacha, Director of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) (Monuments), Javed Akhtar, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Hampi Heritage Site Management Authority, V.N. Halakatti, Superintendent Archaeologist, ASI (Karnataka Circle), Ramakrishna, Director, Karnataka State Archaeology and Museums, Satyavati, Joint Commissioner, Tourism, G.N. Shivamurthy, Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner of Authority, and Ranganath, Senior Conservationist, ASI, among other officials, went around the Hampi area to see the monuments.

The team saw the work undertaken by the authority at the bathing ghat, and the pylons of the footbridge, which were demolished.

Ms. Yang, on seeing structures on the other side of the bank at Virpapur Gadda (an island), said further construction should be prevented.

Mr. Akthar explained that a comprehensive site management plan was being prepared to shift people from areas surrounding the monuments, and from areas that affected the environment of the heritage site.

Mr. Kedar and Mr. Akthar informed the team about the preparation of a map of the area with the help of satellite images and socio-economic data. The team was taken to a site where a facilitation centre and commercial complex are to be constructed.

The plans to regulate traffic and the facilities to be provided to tourists were explained to them.

Ms. Yang suggested that the work undertaken by the authority, such as landscaping, should not affect the heritage monuments.

The team was impressed with the monoliths, `Sasivekal' (mustard seed) and `Kadlekal' (Bengal gram), and idols of Ganesh and `Ugra Narasimha'. Ms. Yang and Mr. Trouilloud visited the Hazara Rama temple complex, the Krishna temple, and other monuments.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Bangalore Metro Rail Project on track

Unesco commends Hampi project

Seer seeks end to controversy

Rural India bridging `digital divide' with wireless Internet

Maharashtra releases water

Oscar for talks with militants

Death anniversary of Tipu Sultan

Basava Jayanti celebrations begin today

Focus on social problems, newspapers told