The Hindu : Karnataka News : ASI drive against encroachments

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

ASI drive against encroachments

R. Krishna Kumar

It is to restore the heritage status of nationally protected monuments in Srirangapatna

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

POSITIVE ACTION: Illegally cultivated coconut trees on the ramparts of the Srirangapatana Fort have been cleared by the ASI.

SRIRANGAPATNA: In a move to restore the heritage status of nationally protected monuments, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has launched a drive to clear encroachments, and evicted illegal occupants, in Srirangapatna.

This follows a long process of ascertaining the ownership of land which in a few cases was either illegally or wrongly made in the name of the ancestors of the occupants as early as in the 1930s but was encroachment in most cases.

A few encroachments whose eviction was central to restoring the heritage status of important monuments were the illegal cultivation and coconut plantation inside the Thomas Imam’s dungeon within the ramparts of the Fort overlooking the Cauvery adjoining the Jamia Masjid.

This was the place where the prisoners of war were housed during the time of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

More than 20 guntas of land that was between the two fort walls was taken up for coconut plantation and the canopy of green cover had completely masked the Fort and these were removed by the authorities.

Similarly, the Garrison Hospital, which is in ruins and an unprotected monument, had been occupied with several new constructions coming up over the years.

Though the hospital is unprotected, it fell within the 100-metre purview of other significant ASI landmarks, including the Obelisk War Memorial opposite the Srirangapatna Railway Station.

Hence, the authorities stepped up pressure on the occupants and with the support of the district administration got the area cleared.

More than one acre of land was restored to the ASI’s possession which now plans to take up landscaping in a bid to preserve the monuments and create suitable ambience to make it attractive for tourists.

At present, the debris of the demolished structure is being cleared and the area is being fenced.

The process of ascertaining the ownership of land that was within the periphery of protected monument began during the time of the then Heritage Commissioner Vijaybhaskar.

So far, nine places have been identified in Srirangapatna where encroachments are to be cleared and the process of cancelling the grant or ownership of land is being pursued.

Sources said similar encroachment had taken place over the decades within the fort walls that encompass Col. Bailey’s Dungeon which is an important tourist spot adjoining the ancient Sriranganathaswamy Temple and is frequented by visitors. This was another place where the British soldiers were held captive but the outer periphery is now encroached upon and coconut plantations have come up.

With the Government stepping up its efforts to develop Srirangapatna on the lines of Hampi, it is perceived that the encroachments that are a major impediments to take up restoration and conservation work are to be cleared in conjunction with the State Archaeology Department and the Revenue Department.

With land being scarce and given the increasing pressure along the Mysore-Srirangapatna stretch for conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, officials feel further delay in retrieving land and clearing encroachments will become difficult in future.

However, in a few places where there are monuments of historical importance there are habitats and people have been living there for centuries and the ASI’s 100-metre rule cannot be implemented in toto nor can people be evicted en masse.

Hence, there is a need for constituting local committees comprising residents, officials from various departments, town planners and architects who can come up with a framework for decongestion, blue prints for construction activity that vibes with the surrounding historical monuments.

Meanwhile, the ASI has completed wire mesh fencing along the Srirangapatna Fort. A pathway will be constructed for tourists to explore the fort after landscaping is completed.

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