Bid to build office near fort opposed

BELGAUM: The activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) have opposed to construction work in 200-metre radius of a historical fort here.
The income tax department, which has taken a land outside the fort on lease, is planning to build an office there. A bus stand for rural buses and an autorickshaw stand at the land. The department took possession of the land by evicting the vehicles on Monday.
KRV activists led by district president Rajeev Topannavar on Tuesday expressed their anger by ransacking the plaque of the I-T department placed at the site.
Topannavar said the central government has passed Ancient Monuments' Protection Act a few months ago. "It has clearly mentioned that no construction works should take place in 200-metre radius of historical monuments," he added.
The government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore for the development of the fort, said to be one among rare monuments. "Hence the district administration should seriously work towards the development of fort," Topannavar said, adding they have also submitted a memorandum to DC Ekroop Kaur in this regard.
Activists Deepak Gudaganatti, Sameer Pasha, Veeru Swami, and Prabhu Puranikmath were present.
KRV activists ransack the plaque of the income tax department in Belgaum on Tuesday