People rise against destruction of 492-year-old inscription at Unesco Heritage Site

Police case after report on loss of Hampi rock

People rise against destruction of 492-year-old inscription at Unesco Heritage Site

Sreenivas G, a physically challenged person, has filed a police complaint after reading in MiD DAY of the destruction of a Hampi rock inscription bearing an important historical record. It was reported on Friday that a luxury resort being built by the Vijayanagara member of the assembly (MLA) in Hampi, a Unesco World heritage Site, had destroyed the rock with the 492-year-old inscription on it.

"I have filed a complaint," said Sreenivas, general secretary, Vijaynagara physically challenged association.

""We were well aware of the inscription's presence here since long, but came to know about the MLA's act of ruining it after a friend of mine informed me about it when it appeared in MiD DAY. We have decided to fight till justice is done."

MiD DAY's report 'MLA's resort destroys record of history' exposed how MLA Singh's resort had sacrificed the rock inscription even as the state gears up to celebrate 500 years since the coronation of King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire. Singh is also overseeing the state celebrations.

Sreenivas said people from different walks of life have responded to the report and launched their protest against the MLA.

People question MLA's rock shock

On his part, Sreenivas, a resident of Kamlapur, filed a complaint on January 9 at the Kamlapur police station.u00a0

Stop construction

In his complaint, he urged the police to find the missing rock inscription that stood at Survey Number 618 of Kumbara Kunte.u00a0

"The inscription is missing now as some construction is coming up," said Sreenivas. "Hence I have urged the police to find it. I have also urged the police to stop the construction immediately, as rules don't permit any sort of construction in the core zone in Hampi."

He has also filed a right to information application with the state archaeological department in Kamlapur seeking information on the details of the construction and procedures that permitted builders to come up with a construction at the Unesco World Heritage Site.

Appeal to CM

Historian Dr Murthy has written to the state government, drawing attention to MLA Anand Singh's act of destruction. Besides urging the chief minister to stop the construction coming up on a restricted site, he has expressed concern over loss of the 492-year-old inscription, which he says is among the most vital records of history.

"I'm shocked," Dr M Chidananda Murthy told MiD DAY. "It's unfortunate that one of most important historical evidences is destroyed. The inscription is recorded in Hampi University's Part 2 of Hampi Inscriptions. I'm writing to the chief minister in this regard. I have urged the state government to stop the construction undertaken by MLA Anand Singh immediately."