Minister promises better facilities

HAMPI: The state government has drawn up a master plan to develop the historic ruins at Hampi at a cost of over Rs 200 crore, beside s stepping up security to prevent further encroachments at and damage to the world heritage site.

Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy said that the plan was already in place and work would start soon. The Centre too has chipped in with Rs 80 crore for the protection and preservation of monuments, and for further excavation to unearth more treasures hidden beneath.

This apart, the government has identified around 250 acres, where hotels (from five-star to budget range), besides an amusement park will come up.

Reddy said that a zoo on the lines of the one in Singapore would be developed at Daroji bear sanctuary near Hampi.

The government would conduct year-long festivities in 2009 to mark 500 years of Krishnadevaraya’s rule. On the steps taken to protect monuments from being desecrated, Reddy said that a new police sub-division office for Hampi would be set up in a week. “Already, 45 policemen are on round-theclock duty working in shifts,” he said, assuring full protection to all structures.

On the bad condition of roads leading to Hampi, the Minister said that it was a matter of time that they would be re-laid.

“Global tenders have been prepared and we will start work on the Bellary- Hospet bypass stretch in about a month,” he added.

Source: expressbuzz.com