Anantapur: A proposal to Unesco seeking world heritage status to Lepakshi by film star turned politician and local MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna and the state government kindled hopes among locals that the area would be developed.
The five-century-old Lepakshi, a part of the Vijayanagar empire, has highly appreciated sculptures, wall and roof paintings and the world's biggest Nandi statue.
The temple town has been badly neglected in all aspects with not even bare minimum maintenance. Surrounding parts of the temple including doors were taken away by residents to build their own houses.
A big well (Koneru) built adjacent to Veerabhadresw-ara Swamy temple was almost occupied. The wall and roof paintings in the temple have been in bad condition and a natya mandapam with different type designs has remained unfinished since Virupanna period.
Balakrishna, during a recent meeting with endowments and IT ministers and state-level officials over organising of Lepakshi Festival in the last week of this month discussed the possibilities of development.
A proposal was made seeking world heritage status to Lepakshi and the MLA assured to make efforts to get status. “If the historic monument gets recognition the place would get a facelift,” Balakrishna said.
Presently, Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar has been recognised and work has started. Hampi's 2,000 temples and ancient stones attract half a million pilgrims and tourists each year. Conservationists want the site in Karnataka re-stored to its medieval glory.
Unesco, which grants world heritage site status, said it had asked the local authorities to remove unauthorised buildings but had not requested the eviction of the residents. All the shops and residences were evacuated at Virupaksheswara Swamy temple and Old Bazaar.
As per the directions, even diesel and petrol cars were not permitted near Purandara Vittal temple at Hampi where the archaeology department was running motor cars to control pollution and also bring old look for the once Vijayanagara capital.
As the surrounding parts of Lepakshi temple were already encroached, experts opine that would not be an easy task to restore according to Unesco rules.
However, the state government had sanctioned Rs 4.30 crore for organising Lepakshi Fete in last week of this month.
A veteran leader L. Rameswar Rao hoped the Lepakshi Utsavalu can be a step to get world heritage status.
