Eight resorts and hotels in the Hampi-Anegondi region were sealed and served notices on Tuesday for allegedly operating without high-specification packaged treatment units and discharging untreated wastewater into irrigation canals feeding the Tungabhadra River. The action was taken in Gangavathi, following a complaint to the Lokayukta alleging that sewage, toilet waste, and solid waste from resorts in Hampi, Anegondi, Sanapur, Basapur, and Hanumanahalli were polluting the river and harming the local environment. A joint inspection was conducted by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board along with the assistant commissioner, tahsildars of Gangavathi and Koppal, and officials from Gescom, the forest department, Hampi Development Authority, and gram panchayats. Gangavathi tahsildar Vasanthakumari said eight resorts and hotels were sealed and issued notices after inspections revealed violations of environmental norms. Those sealed included Sugreeva Kingdom Resort, Hampi HeartLand Heritage Resort, Hampi Delmont Resort, Green Stone Resort, Sri Season Resort, Whispering Rock Resort on the Hampi-Sanapur Road near Anjanadri Temple, Full Moon Resort in Rangapur village, and Otters Cafe near Thirumalpur in Holemudlapur village of Koppal taluk.
However, resort owners appealed to deputy commissioner Suresh B Itnal, stating that tourists were currently staying at their properties and that immediate closure would cause inconvenience. Following the plea, the deputy commissioner directed assistant commissioner Maheboob Jilani to grant a two-day extension. The seals were removed, and the resorts were instructed to install high-specification packaged treatment units for wastewater treatment and waste disposal within the stipulated period.