On the contrary, local people say a cooperative bank building was completed two months ago in the bazaar opposite the main cluster of temples. And chances are, sources said, the building will be extended.

ASI director-general Ajay Shankar said in Delhi, ``We are not a policing authority. Even the police cannot prevent illegal constructions or rapes and murders. If a new building has indeed been built, the ASI representative in Khajuraho will be told to look into it and we will follow up the matter.''On why the 1992 notification is yet to be implemented, he said, ``We are waiting for a report from INTACH on the subject. We expect the report will be ready in a month or two.'' He said INTACH had been working on the report for six months.

Sources saythe notification disallows any building whatsoever within 100 metres of the 1000-year-old temples, while the zone between 100 to 300 metres will be a regulated area in which no fresh construction will be allowed but status quo will be maintained regarding existing buildings.

``For the last few years, we have been hearing that they are going to pull down this bazaar and create a bagicha extending 100 metres from the temples,'' says P.S. Chandel, who runs a souvenir shop right outside the temple gates, declared a World Heritage site by Unesco last year. ``But we don't know anything for sure. I did question an official once. He confirmed that such an order had come from the Centre.''

About 150 people in the bazaar will be affected if the notification is implemented but most see little reason to worry. ``The Centre might have sent the order but the State Government is not going to implement it unless there is pressure because it has to get votes from the people here,'' says another shopkeeper.

Two yearsago, a new market was built in the town and some shopkeepers in this bazaar bought shops in it. Others say they will ponder the future when their shops here are dismantled. ``We will obviously try to set up shop at the entry point to the bagicha surrounding the temples. That is where we can best do business,'' says Chandel. He adds, ``One thing is clear from our side. Nothing should happen to the temples. After all, we earn a living through them.''