Group of Monuments at Hampi

a) Lack of an operational site management plan;

b) Lack of traffic regulations limiting heavy-duty vehicular traffic.

Total amount provided to the property: Funding under the France-UNESCO Co-operation Agreement for expert missions (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) for a total amount of 24,000 Euros.

On 1 February 2011, the State Party submitted a brief report providing information on the progress achieved with regard to the requirements outlined in Decision 34 COM 7B.71.

a) Preparation of a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

The State Party submitted a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value. However this is incomplete.

b) Extension of the buffer zone boundaries of the property by 1 February 2011

The State Party reports that following the recommendations of the 2005 Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS advisory mission, it was decided by the site manager that the property boundary will remain unchanged and that the buffer zone boundaries will be increased. The proposal for boundary modification will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre.

c) Completion of the Integrated management plan (IMP)

The State Party reports that the final Integrated management plan (IMP) is under preparation and will be submitted in 2011, along with a sythesis of previous documentation. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has initiated a consultative process to seek views and consensus of different stakeholders for the finalization and implementation of the plan. The State Party will provide confirmation when the IMP has been approved, is fully resourced and will be implemented.

d) Illegal constructions and control of development

The State Party reports that previous encroachements and illegal construction is under scrutiny by the Government of Karnataka, and that implementation of Orders is underway. No new constructions are permitted without authorization, and immediate necessary action is being taken in case of encroachment with reference to section 3 of the Karnataka Public Premises Act-1974 (Eviction of Un-authorized Occupants) through a recently appointed authority.

e) Demolition and removal of the remaining debris, pillars and carriageway of the collapsed bridge;

The State Party reports that the central government is addressing this issue with the appropriate agencies of the Karnataka State government.

f) Location for a vehicular bridge outside of the current and possible future boundaries of the property

It is reported that a Cultural Impact Assessment Study is being initiated to relocate the bridge outside of the property. Appropriate decisions will be taken, based on this study.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies understand that the Integrated management plan has not yet been adopted and needs to be finalised by the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority, in consultation with ASI and other relevant stakeholders. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies express concern that the IMP has not yet been fully adopted, implemented and resourced. They further note that no satisfactory request has been submitted by the State Party to obtain formal approval by the World Heritage Committee for an extended World Heritage property buffer zone. In order to approve the considerable extension to the property, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies encourage the State Party to prepare and submit a satisfactory boundary modification request of the property together with the relevant maps and information.

Many of the issues relate to the recommendations of the 2007 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission. Given the vulnerability of this property in terms of development, and the commitment expressed by the State Party, at the time of removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2006, with regards to the finalisation and the full implementation of the IMP, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that the previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee have not yet been fully implemented. These issues need to be addressed and pursued with some urgency in order to have in place robust management systems that can address the conservation, protection, development and management challenges of the property.