Karnataka   

Karnataka Government response adds to ASI fears

Alladi Jayasri

Says cable car will be installed at the site for 12 months

BANGALORE: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has given clearance for a cable car at Shravanabelagola, on the "clear understanding that the installation will be removed once the celebrations are over."

But the Government does not seem to have any intention to do so. And it does not seem to be concerned about ASI's apprehensions over damage to the monuments, if its response to the six questions raised by ASI is any indication.

The ASI had in a communication to the Government on December 16, said that it expects that the State Government will agree that "the cable car will not be operated after a fixed date" (the day when the celebrations are over) and that it will voluntarily remove all the installations. Since the cable car is meant only for helping out the aged and the handicapped, the ASI has insisted that the number of cable cars be reduced to two-plus-two instead of four.

The Government had in a letter to the ASI December 26 said that the cable car will be installed for 12 months from the date of commencement of operation.

The ASI, which relied on two reports of the three-member expert committee which examined the proposal for cable car and came to the conclusion that the cable car was not advisable on Vindhyagiri, has noted that the Government had agreed to install the cable car only during the `mahamasthakabhisheka' since "the concurrence for the project was not forthcoming."

On December 26, the Mahamastakabhishekha Organising Committee met and the Chief Minister announced that the ASI had given permission for temporary installation of the cable car. He said the cable car was needed to take VIPs to the venue of the ceremony and wished away apprehensions about damage to the monuments. Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna said that no effort will be spared to "wear down" the ASI until it agrees to allow the cable car to become a permanent fixture.

The Chief Minister has said that the Government has urged the Centre to push ahead the proposal to seek UNESCO World Heritage Monument status for Shravanabelagola. On details of technical differences between the temporary and permanent cable cars: the permanent cable car is for a capacity of 800 passengers per hour with 20 cars.

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