Master Plan for Hampi Local Planning AreaAdministrative and planning process for Managing a World Heritage Site

Aravind Srivastava, I.A.S

Hampi village – Virupakshapura

Site having multiple meanings

Sacred, Aesthetic, Scientific value, Architectural Value……….

Pre-Historic Site

Vernacular Architecture

Theppa or Nadadoni / Coracle

Traditional Craft

Coracles

Hampi: Uniqueness

• Scale– Geographical expanse– Number of monuments and cultural resources

• Interplay– Cultural and natural heritage– Living community and monuments

• Evolving– Archeologically living site– Largely unexplored

The current criterion for inscription that highlights the authenticity and integrity of the site is as follows:Criteria I: Masterpiece of human genius• The sophistication of the varied urban, a royal and

sacred system is evident from the surviving complexes, structures and remains.

• This represents an act of human genius – a highly developed City of the 16th century with unique cultural landscape.

• The recognition of the potential of natural landscape as the Capital and achieving it as a cultural product.

Criteria III: Exceptional testimony to a civilization, which has disappeared

• The site today is predominantly a vast Archeological area whose entire extents can be discerned.

• The capital city was planned with core area, suburbs and spatial hierarchy articulated on the basis of its occupants accommodating the emperors, noblemen, and ordinary people giving identity to various zones.

• The Sacred center, Royal center, Noblemen’s Quarters and ceremonial areas like Mahanavami Dibba were where the royalty and nobility resided.

• There were puras for general public, Central Avenue, Bazaar. • These remains bear testimony to a last Civilization

Criteria IV: Outstanding example for a type of building or architectural ensemble

• Vijayanagara Empire developed the Dravidian Architecture and took it to its ultimate form.

• The Vithala Temple undoubtedly represents its ultimate achievement.

• The Stone Chariot in front is a Testimony of a prevalent religious system.

• Another unique contribution to Dravidian Architecture is the Rath Street. The Virupaksha Bazaar is one of the most magnificent Rath Street at a grand scale.

• Vijayanagara Architecture is also known for its adoption of Indo-Islamic Architecture for secular buildings like Queen’s Bath and Elephants’ Stables, which is in contrast to the pure Dravidian style employed for religious Architecture. The defense architecture was also prevalent during Vijayanagara period with seven lines of fort wall.

Other Values and Significance of Hampi as per IMP – at National, Regional and Local levels

• Geological value• Pre-historic value• Historic and Architectural value• Hampi as Sacred Landscape• Intangible heritage and Traditional knowledge

systems

Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority: Mandate

• Conservation of cultural heritage and natural environs of Hampi and its surroundings

• Preservation of historical and cultural identity of Hampi as WH site

• Preventing uncontrolled development and commercial exploitation of the area

• Sustained development of the area which is conducive to the above objectives

HWHAMA: Beginning

• Strength: – Legally clear existence – Clear goals and objectives

• Weakness:– Lost time– Organizationally weak

• Challenge:– No experience– No suitably trained manpower

CHALLENGES

Managing Hampi- Legal Framework

• Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority Act, 2002 (HWHAMA Act)

• The Mysore Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961 (SAD Act)

• Ancient Monuments and Historical Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (ASI Act)

• Karnataka Country and Town Planning Act, 1961 (KTCP Act)

• Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, (KPR Act)• Karnataka Municipalities Act, (KMA Act)• UNESCO Inscription

Defining Heritage

• SAD Act– Archeological Site and Remains means any area

which contains ruins or relics of historical or archeological importance including area required for fencing, covering, preserving and accessing it.

– Protected Area No construction, mining, quarrying, excavating, blasting or any operation of like nature in such an area or utilize any area in any other manner without permission of the government.

Defining Heritage

• 1988 Notification- An area of 41.80 sq.km. was declared as protected area under SAD Act.

• The same area has been designated as Core Zone under HWHAMA Act.

• Buffer Zone is 1 km beyond Core Zone boundary and Peripheral Zone is 1kms from the Buffer Zone boundary.

• Under ASI Act, 56 monuments have been declared as Protected monuments and 100 meters around it is declared as Prohibited area and further 200 meters is declared as Regulated area.

Defining Heritage

• HWHAMA Act– Heritage Area means a Core Area Zone, Buffer

Zone and Peripheral Zones but excluding areas protected under ASI Act.

– Cultural Heritage means and includes (list of monuments) being conserved by ASI and SAD.

– Constitution of the Authority• Authority containing Chairman and members from

various departments• Commissioner- Chief Executive and Administrative

Officer• State Level Advisory Committee• Authority Security Force

Defining Heritage• HWHAMA Act

– Functions of Authority• Carry out survey of Heritage Area• Prepare Development Plan of the Heritage Area• Formulate schemes and carry out works as envisaged in the

development plan• To raise finances for such projects and schemes• Secure coordination in execution of development plan

between various agencies• To raise awareness and promote and encourage research to

understand archeological, historical and environmental values of the Hampi World Heritage Site.

Defining Heritage• HWHAMA Act

– No development to be undertaken by anyone and no local body shall grant permission without previous permission of the Authority

– Development means • Carrying out of building, engineering or other operations;• Making any material change in any building or land;• Making any material change in the use of of any building or

land;• Redevelopment and forming of layouts, subdivision of any

land.

Defining Heritage

• KTCP Act:– Heritage Building means a building possessing

Architectural, Aesthetic, Historic or Cultural values which is declared as a Heritage Building by Planning Authority or any other Competent Authority

– Heritage Precinct means an comprising heritage buildings and precincts thereof or related places declared as such by the Planning or such other competent Authority.

Defining Heritage

• KTCP Act:– Declaration of certain areas as Area of Special

Control subject to regulations with regards to-• Building Line• Height of the Building• Floor Area Ratio• Architectural Features

– Master Plan shall indicate “Heritage Buildings” and “Heritage Precincts” and shall include regulations for conservation of the same

Issues in Management

• Definition of Area– Inscribed Area– Protected Area– Prohibited and Regulated Area– Core Zone– Buffer and Peripheral Zone– Heritage Area– Archeological Area

Issues in Management• Interspersed habitations

– Core Zone-10 villages ,Pop. 29000 – Heritage Area-28 villages, 1 town, Pop.65000– Heritage Zones within Habitations– Issue of relocation and rehabilitation– Housing and Public Infrastructure Issues

• Plan and Design• Time frame

– Regulation of undesirable economic activities– Role and jurisdiction of local bodies

Hampi: ExtentHabitations Population Area

(sqkm)GP Municipality

Core 8 29111 109.65 3 full2 part

1

Buffer 10 9702 59.87 5 part

Peripheral 11 23344 66.92 6 part

TOTAL 29 59941 236.45 7 1

Issues in Management• Managing Monuments (SAD)

– Dependence of master plan– Incomplete inventory of monuments– Inadequate information about monuments– Ownership and accessibility issues– No comprehensive management and conservation

plan– Insufficient manpower for security and maintenance– Linking conservation with tourism

Issues in Management

• Managing Cultural Features– Inadequate inventory of features– Lack of understanding of management and

conservation issues– Issues of natural features– Issue of Intangible Heritage– Lack of technical manpower– Lack of coordination among departments– Lack of link with tourism

Issues in Management

• Managing Visitors– Lack of comprehensive circulation plan

• Visitors’ needs versus local needs– Inadequate facilities

• Hotel rooms• Connectivity

– Information and Interpretation needs

Hampi: MonumentsTypology of structure Number Number of accessible monuments

Sculptures 336 119

Shrine 157 106

Temples 352 241

Temple Complexes 96 55

Street of special functions 6 4

River side features 16 2

Caves and Cavern 64 32

Mosque 6 5

Mandapas 81 28

Memorial Structures 79 66

Rock Paintings 10 7

Fragments 163 71

Water Structures 80 47

Gate ways 62 39

Defense Structures 92 45

Total 1600 867

Action taken

The Master Plan addresses the following:

– Planned development of the area by addressing• the needs of the population (Physical and social

infrastructure)• future expansion of the settlement in a planned manner

– Conservation of the cultural and natural heritage • Identification of the cultural and natural heritage (including

intangible heritage) other than protected by ASI and state archaeology

• Development of appropriate mechanism for promotion and protection of heritage

– Development of infrastructure for tourism

Map protocol

Monuments Heritage Structures

SAD

Revenue maps (Legal reference)

Habitations Cultural Heritage Features

ISRO (Geographical Natural Features)

Buildings

ASI

Cadastral Overlay

Remote sensing application for Heritage Management

Mapping of an Archaeological Area- Vittala Temple Complex

Hampi: Possibilities

• Multi-disciplinary complexity– Archeologists– Conservationists– Architects– Town Planners– Cultural Researchers– Tourism Experts– Social Scientists– Engineers

Master Plan: Needs

• Site is exciting enough to get disoriented.• Liberty cannot be taken with time as we

are dealing with living community– Baseline data changes– Equations change– Needs and requirements change– Standards change

Master Plan: Needs

• Uni-dimensional approach vs. multidimensional approach

• Reconciling perspectives e.g. Land– To an architect– To a land administrator– To the owner– Legal vs. spatial identity

• Optimized rather than maximized solutions

Master Plan: Needs

• Professed goals to be translated into accomplishable tasks

• Complexity of research and academic pursuit vs. operationally simple and legally consistent plan

• Defining Principles– Are we consistent?– Are we fair?

Master Plan: Resources

• Limited budget support• Lack of necessary expertise

– Town Planning- concept and application of heritage concepts

– Not available in government either• Political and administrative will• Thinking as an administrator

Master Plan: Communication

• Complex concepts• Language• Lack of window for a dialogue• Differing sometimes conflicting interests• Aspirations- economic and social• Ignorance resulting in reactionary

responses• Prospective vs. Retrospective effect

Master Plan- Consultative process

• Translation of the master plan document into Kannada

• Notifying as per the provisions of the KTCP Act• Display in the Authority notice board • Sale of Master plan upon request • Posting of the document in a Web site • State level Authority meeting • District level officers meeting• Village level workshops • Tourism stakeholders meet

Master Plan: Implementation

• More challenging than preparation• Mechanism

– Regulatory– Investment

• Creating genuine stakeholders interest• Political and administrative will

– Priorities– Visibility– Role of UNESCO, GoI

Master Plan: Implementation

• Role of Archeological departments• Need for coordination among departments

– Collective responsibility– Procedures and standards to be in place– Sector sub-plans

• Sensitization of various levels of decision makers

Achievements • Integrated Site Management Plan

– Master Plan under KTCP Act.• Zoning Regulations including Natural Heritage Preservation• Building and Architectural Guidelines

– Tourism Project Outlines• Circulation Network• Development of Tourism nodes• Interpretation• Intangible Heritage• Vernacular Architecture

– Conservation of Monuments

• Sanction of scheme for product/ infrastructure development for tourism destination and circuit by Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India based on the D.P.R prepared by HWHAMA – 33 Crores and State Government sanction – 8 crores as state share for 2008-09

• Approval of Master Plan – 2021 for Hampi

• Sanction of 17 posts and funding by the Government to further strengthen HWHAMA – Appointment of Engineer for building center– Appointment of consultants for development of Nodes and tourism

strategy

• Total station survey of 29 revenue villages

• Structure survey of settlements

• Integrated Information system– Installation of work by ISRO on a GIS Platform Integration of information regarding revenue,

administrative, archaeological, cultural and natural features, socio – economic data

• Finalization of Management Plan • Implementation of Master Plan • Enhancement of security force• Implementation of solid waste management at

Hampi • Development of Tourism Hub – Finalization of

the scheme by I-Deck

Security plan

30 security postspolice beats

8f) Officially adopt traffic regulations banning heavy duty vehicular traffic from the Word Heritage Area and submit these regulations to the World Heritage Center

Traffic barricade

Thank You