Bangalore, March 11: Bowing to the strong public opinion, the State Government had decided not to transfer the 80 acre of land belonging to Hampi Kannada University to the controversial Vijayanagar Revival Trust in Bellary District.
Making a suo moto announcement in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced the government had dropped idea of transferring the land which was opposed to by writers, intellectuals and artists.
Clarifying the stand of the government on the issue, the Chief Minister said the State Tourism Department had planned to establish a Theme Park on the erstwhile Vijayanagar Empire near the site of Hampi ruins for the benefit of the visiting tourists from both foreign nations and across the country.
He said the idea was to make a virtual presentation of the glory of the Vijayanagar Empire employing modern technology besides housing a Study Center on Krishna Devaraya, the principal emperor of the State and a statue.
”It was an attempt to present a bird’s view on the Vijayanagar Empire which existed in the medieval period to the visiting tourists who thronged from all parts of the world,” he said.
—Agencies