Priceless antiquities damaged in Hampi Utsav preparation

While Hampi, a Unesco world heritage site in Karnataka's Bellary district commences its annual festival, archaeologists are concerned about the ensuing destruction of the city's priceless antiquities.
Once the capital of the Vijaynagara empire and home to around 56 monuments built in 14th century AD, Hampi also known as "city of ruins" is facing a conflict between development and preservation, say archaeologists.
The annual "Hampi Utsav" which begins from January 10 here has caused frequent damages to the world heritage site, point out archaeologists and other experts.
"Last Thursday, a trench around 200 metres-long was dug near the Fort Wall and the Queen's Bath to lay a water line for the Utsav. As the excavator dug, antiquities surfaced and got crushed," Archaeological Survey of India's heritage site manager N C Prakash Nayakanda told PTI in an interview.

An antique earthen pot, lying underneath got crushed and several other antiques lying beneath the ground may also have got damaged, he said.
Nayakanda said that such protected areas only allowed trained archaeologists to carry out excavations.
"What happened was illegal and the matter has been taken into consideration," he said.
"JCB(excavators) are not supposed to be allowed at all here. After all, these are archaeological sites of national importance. The JCBs may have affected the deposits lying underneath also, he pointed out.