Group of Monuments at Hampi

New information: On 25 January 1999 an independent expert informed the Secretariat that a highway and bridge over Tungabhadra River cutting across the World Heritage protected area of the site of Hampi were under construction. On 8 February 1999 during a brief mission to New Delhi, a staff member of the World Heritage Centre called on the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Indian National Commission for UNESCO. Photographs of the construction works were provided and UNESCO’s concern over the negative impact these public works may have on the integrity of this World Heritage Site was expressed. Moreover, it was suggested that the Indian authorities consider halting the on-going works until evidence is established on the non-obtrusive nature of the works and that a report be submitted by the State Party for consideration by the World Heritage Bureau at its twenty-third session. To date, the Secretariat has not received this report.

According to an independent expert report received by the Centre, other obtrusive buildings are being constructed, allegedly without permission from the national authorities, in addition to this bridge over the Tungabhadra River being constructed beside the Virupaksha Temple as an extension of the road up-grading works.

The Bureau, having been informed of the on-going public and private works within the World Heritage Site of the Groups of Monuments at Hampi, expresses deep concern over the declared threat on the integrity of the site. The Bureau recommends the Secretariat: (a) to organize urgently, a reactive monitoring mission to the site to assess the situation in close co-operation with the State Party and independent experts, and, (b) to submit a report by 15 September 1999 for examination by the Bureau with a view to recommend the possible inscription of this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the Committee at its twenty-third session.

Previous deliberations:

World Heritage Bureau, twenty-third session - Chapter IV.60

 

New information:Following the decision of the Bureau at its twenty-third session, a reactive monitoring mission was undertaken by a World Heritage Centre staff to Hampi in October 1999, in close co-operation with the State Party. The mission discovered that two cable-suspended modern bridges, instead of one, had been partially constructed within the protected archaeological area of Hampi.  Moreover, the mission was informed that a historic mandapa (pillared stone rest-house) on the bank of the Tungabhadra River within the Anegundi village, located in the World Heritage protected site, and administered by the State Government of Karnataka (as per the Mysore Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act & Rules, 1961 & 1962), had been dismantled and reconstructed to make way for the road leading off the vehicle bridge being construction. 

The mission noted that both bridges impact negatively on the World Heritage site in the following manner:

(i)                  The large-scale two-way bridge for vehicular traffic connects the archaeological and historic areas of the ancient capitals of Anegundi and Hampi. The second foot-bridge connects the ancient monuments and sites of Virapapura Gada Island and Hampi, leading directly adjacent to the important Virupaksha Temple in Hampi. Both bridges dominate the extraordinary natural environment and rural setting, threatening the integrity of the World Heritage site. 

(ii)                The dislocation and reconstruction of an important historical monument within the protected area signifies serious problems in the implementation of existing cultural heritage legislation and policies which points to the need for corrective measures to ensure the authenticity of the site.

(iii)               Vehicular traffic, especially of large trucks transporting both agricultural produce and industrial material between eleven villages and major cities surrounding the site, including large iron ore industries, will increase dramatically as the new bridge will enable a short-cut for all traffic traversing the Tungabhadra River. The road leading from the large bridge construction site already passes through the important Harishankara Gateway in Hampi, but further increase in traffic, especially those of heavy-duty trucks will augment the risk of collision into 15^th and 16^th century historic monuments and ancient archaeological remains located along the roadside. Moreover, increased traffic will hamper, if not render impossible, archaeological research and excavation in significant areas within the World Heritage site, as well as causing negative impact on the local inhabitants, tourists and visitors to the site.

(iv)              The second cable-stayed foot-bridge will connect the historic monuments and archaeological remains of Hampi and Virapapura Gada Island, the latter declared as a protected area under the State Government of Karnataka’s protective legislation.  The mission was informed that the construction of this second bridge was part of a tourism development plan of a private developer.  In view of the remains of a 16^th century aqueduct and ancient canal system leading from the Virapapura Gada Island, both national and international archaeologists fear that the implementation of the current tourism development plan will irreversibly damage the archaeological remains for future scientific research or documentation of the sites on Virapapura Gada Island.

The mission held consultations with the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary and representatives of the relevant authorities of the State Government of Karnataka. The mission also discussed the state of conservation of the Hampi site with the Additional Director-General and Hampi site-managers of the Archaeological Survey of India. It was evident that a comprehensive needs-assessment of the local communities, heritage protection, and sustainable tourism development supported by sound data analysis had not been undertaken before the decision was taken to construct the bridges.  The mission noted that feasibility studies to identify alternative locations and designs of the bridges, including the possible rehabilitation of the 16^th century stone bridges connecting Hampi, Anegundi and Virapapura Gada Island, were not undertaken prior to the implementation of the works underway.

The mission was informed that the construction of the bridges had temporarily been halted in July 1999 following the decision of the Bureau and was assured that immediate action would be taken to protect the World Heritage value of the site. The mission provided assistance in the preparation of an emergency assistance request to enable urgent action and to initiate the preparation of a comprehensive conservation, management and development plan. It is to be noted that the elaboration of a management plan had been recommended by UNESCO and ICOMOS experts since the inscription of the site on the World Heritage List in 1986. Discussions were also held with State Party representatives on the nomination of this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-third session.