Upalokayukta directs action against illegal homestays, resorts in Hampi

Following a surprise visit to Hampi last month, Upalokayukta Justice B. Veerappa has directed officials in Hampi to take legal and appropriate action against all the homestays running illegally within the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) limits and clear them soon. They have been ordered to provide alternative accommodation to those living illegally within 100 metres of Janata Street in Hampi and to those who are running commercial businesses.

Suo motu case

Justice Veerappa told The Hindu that he found several violations of guidelines with respect to core zone, buffer zone and periphery zone owing to the allowance of commercial activities and homestays in the prohibited area of the Hampi World Heritage Area. He has booked a suo motu case over the violations.

As per details, around 200 homestays are being run illegally in the core zone, buffer zone and peripheral zones falling within the scope of HWHAMA. Similarly, 250 homestays are being run without any permission from the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) in the Janata Colony near Hampi Temple.

Review ordered

Justice Veerappa has also instructed officials to submit details of the licenced and illegal homestays, bed and breakfast accommodations, resorts and lodges, along with the supporting documents and legal actions taken against those operating illegally. Officials have been asked to provide details of the total number of resorts, lodges and other types of accommodations being run officially and those that are run illegally without permissions or licences. Besides, the officials have been ordered to check if the owners of these properties have got land conversion documents, building plan approval, and official licences to sell liquor.

“In case property owners don’t have the permissions, I have asked officials to submit a detailed report on the action taken against such resorts, lodges and bed and breakfasts as per law. If the owners of the properties have licences, building plan approval, land conversion documents and others, the officials still have to submit those documents to us. I have also ordered them to submit a report on the legal action taken against the homestays where the owners are not residing on the properties as per regulations,” Justice Veerappa told The Hindu.

However, Vivekananda, Assistant Commissioner, Hospet taluk, denied that the total number of illegal homestays, lodges, resorts are as high as 200. “I agree that there are illegal homestays operating, and we will conduct a survey and submit a detailed report to the Upalokayukta.”