Several Rayalu's structures encroached

PENUKONDA (ANANTAPUR): The state government may be planning to organise the concluding ceremony of coronation of Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya at Penukonda in a big way on August 6, but some of the structures and temples built by the king 500 years ago lie in ruins.
A few Rayalu monuments were encroached upon but officials seem to be oblivious to the encroachments."Some of the encroachers are bigshots having `high' connections. The babus are helpless and doing precious little to protect the great legacy left behind by the Rayalu kings in Penukonda," Ramabhadram, an old resident of the town, said.
Penukonda served as the summer capital of the Vijayanagara kings, who ruled from Hampi in Bellary district in Karnataka. While Gaganmahal served as the official residence of Sri Krishnadevaraya in the town, the `Galigopuram' of a temple was declared as a heritage site by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for its exquisite art and workmanship.
Not less than 365 temples were built in and around Penukonda town alone during the Vijayanagara era. The grave of Krishnadevaraya's key minister Timmarasu alias Appaji lying between two tanks atop a hillock is in dilapidated condition, while the jail where he was incarcerated has crumbled.
Krishnadevaraya sentenced Timmarasu to life imprisonment and gouged out his eyes in 1524, suspecting the latter's role in the death of his son. Timmarasu died in 1536. "The graveyard was vandalised by culprits for hidden treasures," locals said.
An advocate Pratap Reddy said successive governments had failed to protect these monuments. "Many bigshots and so-called godmen were directly involved in excavation activities to lay hands on the hidden treasures of Vijayanagara kingdom," he lamented.
Controversial spiritual guru Sai Kaleswar, who presently runs Shirdi Sai global trust and an ashram, constructed a five-storeyed building close to Rayalu's Galigopuram. The ASI had issued notices to the owners of houses and complexes, which mushroomed close to various structures. "But no action was initiated against the owners of the illegal constructions which spread fast close to the protected monuments," Pratap Reddy said.
When contacted, ASI official G Srinivasulu told TOI that his organisation has surveyed and marked out the encroachments and illegal constructions a few weeks ago. "The multi-storyed building of Sai Kaleswar global trust is within the striking (100 metres) distance of Galigopuram," he said.
Surprisingly, Penukonda gram panchayat had allegedly given permission for the construction of the multi-storyed building close to the Galigopuram. "The ruling and opposition party representatives openly support the illegal constructions of the ashram management. Who is bothered about protecting the great past of Rayalus," a local said.
Taking umbrage to the official apathy, BJP leader K Visnuvardhan Reddy said Hampi was identified and protected as a heritage site by Unicef and ASI authorities. "Why cannot they safeguard the summer capital of Vijayanagara kings from being pillaged by vested interests," he asked.