Vijayapura
Historical city has hundreds of heritage monuments that attract people from across the world. However, the local people and the District Administration do not seem to take pride in these heritage structures.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that is responsible for the conservation and preservation of historical monuments has also failed in its duty and the continued indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned has led to several centrally-protected monuments, including the world famous Gol Gumbaz, being encroached upon.
Several buildings, belonging to the state government and private parties, have come up within the protected areas. The District Administration which aims to make a smart city is also silent on the encroachments. The authorities have put up boards near the monuments stating the area is protected and nothing more was done to save these sites from encroachers. Several illegal houses have come up near the fort walls and they have also been provided electricity connection.
The road connectivity to several important monuments is poor due to the encroachments. The 24×7 water supply scheme has led to water logging on several roads leading to the monuments.
MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has ensured development of some important roads but that is only a lip service. The main issues remain unaddressed, said Naik, a resident of the city.
Octogenarian scholar Krishna Kolhar Kulkarni, who has been fighting for the protection of the monuments, rues that the people of the city and the government have failed to understand that they are losing a treasure of international importance. They have no business to encroach the monument sites, he charged.
The city has 110 monuments declared as protected by ASI and they have been enlisted in 1914. The monuments are classified as defence, architecture, religious, water systems and domestic architecture.
