Group of Monuments at Hampi

• Lack of an operational site management plan (issue resolved)
• Lack of traffic regulations limiting heavy duty vehicular traffic
• Construction project for two cable-suspended bridges in the property
• Demolition works in the Hampi bazaar near Virupaksha temple

Total amount granted: 25,000 EUR under the France-UNESCO Co-operation Agreement for expert missions (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011).

On 16 February 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/241/documents. Progress on a number of conservation issues is presented in this report, as follows:

• The clearing and removal of debris from the collapsed bridge have been almost completed. On the basis of a cultural impact assessment study, a new location for the vehicular bridge has been identified.
• Adoption of the Integrated Management Plan (IMP) together with a synthesis and a list of prioritization of recommendations is progressing. To this effect, an inter-services Workshop on “Site Management for Cultural World Heritage Sites – South Zone: Integrated Management Plan, Hampi” was held in June 2013, organized by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Government of Karanataka in consultation with the Indian Advisory Committee on World Heritage Matters (ACWHM). As a result, the “IMP for Hampi World Heritage Site - Action Plans for Priority Implementation” was submitted to the World Heritage Centre, including nine Sectoral Plans. Please see details at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/241/documents.
• All encroachments in the form of irregular construction at Hampi Bazaar have been removed, based on the 2010 Ancient Monuments Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The affected families have been relocated and will receive compensation in accordance with the Resettlement Plan and the decision of the High Court of Karnataka. The strategy and action plan for the bazaar area, as well as necessary legal and planning tools to prevent any further encroachments at the Hampi bazaar has been developed in the IMP Sectoral Plans (Master Plan and Rehabilitation for Hampi Bazaar). In line with the IMP, the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Hampi World Heritage Area has been developed, and is being used for the conservation strategy of Virupaksha Bazaar.
• Flooding due to the annual release of water from the Tungabhadra dam is resulting in serious impact on the property. The issue is being addressed in consultation with the Tungabhadra Dam Board Authorities in accordance with the Disaster Management Plan.
• The issue of solid waste management has become a matter of concern at Virupapura gadda, Hampi and the Anegundi river banks but a Solid Waste Management Plan has been developed and is now being implemented.
• Some other issues are also reported by the State Party, including the following: 

- Water-intensive agriculture in the immediate vicinity of monuments could create conservation issues.

- Heavy traffic on the state highway passing through the periphery of the property is a serious concern. A proposal for developing a new bypass to divert traffic from the property, as recommended in the Sectoral Plan - Master Plan, has been submitted to the Government of Karnataka.

Significant progress has been made toward the removal of the remains of the collapsed bridge, as well as the organization of an inter-services Workshop on “Site Management for Cultural World Heritage Sites – South Zone: Integrated Management Plan, Hampi” and the preparation of the IMP for Hampi World Heritage Site - the Action Plans for Priority Implementation (including nine Sectoral Plans). In order to consolidate this progress, the State Party should strive to finish as soon as possible all the Sectoral Plans and the process of prioritization and synthesis, and to officially adopt the IMP.

To be noted furthermore are the actions taken by the State Party to remove the encroaching structures previously constructed in the Hampi Bazaar area. In particular, the development of a strategy and action plan for the bazaar area, including necessary legal and planning tools to prevent any further encroachments at the Hampi bazaar, as part of the IMP Sectoral Plans (Master Plan and Rehabilitation for Hampi Bazaar) are positive improvements. Also welcomed is the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Hampi World Heritage Area developed in line with IMP, which is a component of the conservation strategy of Virupaksha Bazaar.

The State Party has also taken steps to address the issues of seasonal flooding and solid waste management. Continuous follow-up and monitoring will be necessary in order to ensure the sustainability of these efforts.

The irrigation for water intensive agriculture in the area poses a threat, especially to heritage structures located in agricultural fields, which could cause future conservation issues.  However, the topic is sensitive because of the local economy’s reliance on these farming techniques. A strategy for managing this issue should be elaborated in close consultation with local stakeholders.

The Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority’s proposal to mitigate the impact of heavy traffic on the property through the construction of a bypass to divert traffic should be welcomed. However, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide more detailed information regarding the proposal.