Bengaluru: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in a report that is bound to embarrass the state govt, has revealed that the tomb of Hiriya Kempegowda, widely regarded as the founder of Bengaluru, is in shambles.
Revered by the politically dominant Vokkaliga community and despite several statues of the former chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire dotting the South Karnataka landscape, including a 108-foot statue at Bengaluru's international airport, Kempegowda's actual tomb in Ramanagara is being saved from total collapse by a single, conscientiously placed stone.
The CAG report states: "...At Ramanagara, an audit noticed that the samadhi of Hiriya Kempegowda, founder of Bengaluru, was in dilapidated condition. This was restored by the villagers by putting a supporting stone to prevent the collapse of the monument."
CAG attributed the dilapidated condition of "lapses by the department in prioritising the work of conservation that has resulted in monuments being on the verge of destruction".
The Vokkaliga community considers Kempegowda as the prime architect in shaping southern Karnataka. The Yelahanka Nadaprabhu is said to have founded Bengaluru in 1537 as the capital of their principality. He is said to have ruled the principality between 1510 and 1570.
However, CAG's report points out that scores of other monuments across the state lack proper maintenance and upkeep, which led to deterioration of these historical sites. The audit suggests that in 2021, some 9,552 unprotected monuments were identified in 19 taluks under the Samrakshane scheme but are yet to be notified.
In Aug 2023, the govt revealed that it would need substantial manpower and funds to conserve and maintain all monuments. It reportedly suggested that it will use the MGNREGA scheme to overcome the shortfall in manpower and finances.
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There are some 25,000 monuments in the state and our department is trying to preserve them all. I am personally unaware of this particular case. I shall direct our state archaeological director to immediately investigate the matter and set things right.
HK Patil | tourism minister