BELLARY: The 30th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), to be held at Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, in 2006, will consider removal of Hampi from the "List of World Heritage Sites in Danger".

Sources The Hindu that a decision to consider removal of Hampi from the list was taken at the 29th session of the WHC held at Durban recently.

The WHC, while deciding to retain the group of monuments at Hampi in the list, requested the Union Government to submit, by February 1, 2006, the final draft of the integrated management plan (IMP) along with a report on the progress of steps to conserve the site. The report will be examined by the WHC at its 30th session to consider removal of the property from the list.

The WHC complimented the State Government for taking action on the recommendations of UNESCO missions and advisory bodies, and for establishing a management authority for the heritage property. It has requested the Government to submit for examination documents for opening Anegundi Bridge, near Talwarghatta, including those related to traffic regulations on the bypass and steps to bar heavy vehicles within the core area of the property.

UNESCO placed Hampi in the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger in since 1999 as it was against the construction of a two-way cable-stayed bridge across the Tungabhadra to link Hampi with Anegundi ("Cradle of the Vijayanagar Empire"). Later, in the wake of appeals from the Government, UNESCO approved completion of the bridge on the condition that steps will be taken to prevent movement of heavy vehicles in the core area of the site.

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