Vizag Buddhists vow to oppose beach corridor

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 3, 2013: Union tourism minister K.Chiranjeevi has just approved the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the tune of `45.88 crore for the development of VizagBheemili beach corridor mega circuit, from RK Beach to Bheemili, but the Buddhists in the city are apprehensive about the project.

They are angered by the alleged breach of sanctity and archaeological value of the Buddhist monuments like Thotlakonda, Bavikonda, and Pavuralakonda, which were also listed in the tourism circuit that is to be developed.

As part of the development of the beach corridor, there are plans to develop these monuments as tourist attractions. The project includes beautification of the corridor, jogging tracks, food courts, children’s parks, theme parks and solid waste collection centres at some selected places between RK Beach and Bheemili, including the century old Buddhist monuments.

Bhuddhists pointed that these archeological sites are prohibited areas for any development except greenery. Now they want authorities to conduct a meeting with stakeholders before approving any plan that would affect the sanctity and archeological value of these sites. Union tourism ministry had just a few days back released an amount of Rs 3.2 cr as first installment.

 “It is unfortunate either the minister or the officials did not disclose what exactly they are going to develop in these prohibited areas of Buddhist monuments. At this juncture if any damage to ancient monuments is done we will proceed in the
court of law for the protection of archaeological sites. It is also a matter of our belief and sentiments,” All India Lay-Buddhist Organisation (AILBO), governing body member K V  Ramana Rao told this correspondent.

Union tourism ministry had also asked the state government to set up a monitoring committee headed by the special chief  secretary (Tourism) with a member from the ministry of tourism and the implementing agency to monitor physical and financial progress of the sanctioned project. The monitoring committee will submit the progress report to the tourism ministry on quarterly basis. The state government would get the work executed through the APTDC Ltd and shall have the work started immediately to ensure timely utilization of funds and to avoid escalation of the cost. The project should be commissioned within 18months.

One of the Buddhist monuments that come under the mega circuit, the Thotlakonda Buddhi-st complex is located on a hillock overlooking the sea, 128 metres above sea level and about 15 km from the city. It was the hub for the spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and South East Asian countries during the third century BC. It was discovered during an aerial survey by the Indian Navy in the 70s. Later, state government declared the entire hill as a protected monument through a GO on May 2, 1978. During his research between 2001 and 2003, an archaeologist working at the University of Michigan, US, Edward Lars Fogelin, discovered 134 sites connected to Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh, including a monastery at Thotlakonda.