Daijiworld Media Network - Ballari (SP)

Ballari, Jan 3: The Mantaps of Hampi, which represent proud heritage of Karnataka, are renowned all over the world. The government has also put in place security system and technology to save them. However, a visit to the Mantaps reveals that the government servants use these Mantaps to park their vehicles. Officials of the government have converted the spots near the Mantaps as spots for parking their two-wheelers.

Archaeological survey of India has stipulated strict norms for the visitors to protect these Mantaps from damage and destruction. Even the local officials have prohibited tourists from placing tripods there. But now vehicles are being parked, which is quite disturbing.

People visiting the Nandi statue near the police station too keep their vehicles near the Mantaps. There is a need to stop this habit. It is learnt that after the photos of misuse of heritage spot were widely shared in social websites, this was brought to the attention of the local officials.

The officials of the department of archaeology just wash their hands off this issue by saying that some employees do not seem to be having knowledge of restrictions and rules. They say they will ask the officials concerned to act against violations like opening of shops and parking of vehicles at unauthorized spots.

Virupaksha Market was functioning at the Hampi site since many years, but these shopkeepers have been evicted without giving them alternative sites. The locals also say that parking spots are not being managed properly and the businessmen have been given very small spaces. They want sufficient and convenient spots to be allocated to tourists and merchants.