Government Stops Digging Operations In Historic Vijayanagar-era Fort

After claiming that the digging was being done in the historic fort of Chennampalli Kota in Tuggali mandal of Kurnool district, the government did a flipflop on Friday saying that the digging was nothing but mineral prospecting.

It may be recalled that the fort was being dug up for hidden treasures by the Government. Police have been deployed and special collector Subba Reddy has been appointed to monitor the digging works. The fort, which is under the control of the ASI, has now been virtually taken over by the district administration.

Thought the government had given a green signal for digging up for gold and diamond treasures, believed to have been buried deep down in the fort. Local village committee was monitoring the digging. Mining and revenue officials too have been deployed in the 102.54 acre fort, which was part of the Vijayanagara empire. However, now the government maintains that the digging is only for mineral prospecting.

In a latest development, the digging operations have been stalled after the works got stuck at a huge boulder. The workers are awaiting a nod from the higher officials to blast the boulder.