Hyderabad, April 04: Two months after the state government had declared the Balighattam tombs as protected monuments, an NGO has raised objections against the government only protecting around half of the land given to the original site. The Forum for Better Society (FFBS) has contended that the government had notified only 19 cents as protected site but the actual site was 36 cents.
The tombs at Balighattam village in Visakhapatnem are of three British police officers against whom freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju had fought valiantly (18971924). The three officers Colonel Neyvelli Hyter, Christopher William Scott Cowards and Captain Gibson were cremated there by the then British government and built tombs in their memory. Except Gibson, the other two died when Sitarama Raju ambushed them in a battle during 192224. But today the monuments are not only in neglect and in a dilapidated condition but the area has also been encroached.
Jayesh Ranjan, secretary in the tourism department had recently said that the tombs required protection under the AP Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and issued a notification calling for objections, if any. The FFBS raised an objection pointing out that the department said in its notification that the tombs were in survey number 9 in an extent of 19 cents.
“It is incorrect. The actual site allotted for tombs was 46 cents by the then British government. Subsequently, the Indian revenue department gave pattas for 10 cents and the remaining site is now 36 cents. Our demand is for acquisition of the entire 36cent site, not just 19 cents. Then only can development and protection of the tombs possible. It is also necessary to remove encroachments on the site,” FFBS convenor PV Satyanarayana Rao said in his representation to the government.
Officials of the department of archaeology and museums said that the matter was under consideration and, if possible, the land would be resurveyed. On March 31, Jayesh Ranjan directed P Chenna Reddy, director of archaeology and museums to take necessary action in reference to the objection raised by FFBS. The members of FFBS said that the tombs location should be developed as a tourist destination.
Besides the British police officers tombs, the state government announced that the graves of Alluri Sitarama Raju and Gantam Dora, who were cremated at Krishnadevi Peta, were part of the protected monuments.
–Agencies