ASI to acquire 228 acres of land at Hampi

New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will acquire 228 acres of private land at Hampi in Karnataka at a cost of Rs. 8.31 crores for providing proper access to some of the monuments inscribed on the World Heritage List.

A Culture Ministry official today said the move would also help expose the ancient remains which were in private lands.

''The proposal to acquire land originated on account of the World Heritage Site at Hampi being surrounded by private cultivable land over which the ASI has no ownership,'' the official said.

Archaeological remains at Hampi are scattered in an area of 26 sqm. The group of monuments have been inscribed on the World Heritage List considering their outstanding universal value.

''The land acquisition will help in providing proper access to some of the monuments and facilitate exposing the ancient remains which are in private lands,'' he said.

A part payment of Rs. 1.58 crores was made but the proposal has to be approved by negotiating the land value with the owners by the state government.

The Union Culture Ministry has accorded sanction to the revised estimate of Rs. 8.31 crores, and the proposalof land acquisition has been approved by Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni.

UNI