The Bombay High Court's Kolhapur bench has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to make a decision on the pending Annual Conservation Programme for the Kopeshwar temple at Khidrapur on or before May 21. This directive was issued during a hearing held on May 15, aiming to expedite the conservation of the 12th-century monument. A public interest litigation (PIL) petitioner claims the temple is being neglected, decaying, and deteriorating.
Court Proceedings and ASI Response
Vijay Killedar, the counsel representing the Government of India, ASI, and the National Monuments Authority, informed the court that the Annual Conservation Programme for the Kopeshwar temple has been forwarded to the Director General of ASI. Accordingly, steps will be taken for the conservation of the temple, which is located along the banks of the Krishna River in Shirol tehsil of Kolhapur district.
The bench of Justice Pravin S Patil issued the direction to ensure timely action on the proposal concerning the ASI-protected monument.
Conservation Efforts and Temple Features
The ASI's annual conservation programmes focus on structural repairs, use of traditional materials, chemical treatment, and preventive measures to address deterioration caused by ageing and environmental factors. The Kopeshwar temple, built in the Shilahara and Yadava era in Bhumija style, features unique elements such as an open-roofed Swarga Mandapa supported by 48 carved pillars. Several of these pillars, along with carved depictions of animals and deities, have suffered irreversible damage, largely due to frequent flooding of the Krishna River.
Petitioner's Allegations and Court Orders
Petitioner Prashant Vasantrao Salunkhe, in PIL 20/2026, has alleged severe neglect of the temple structure. Counsel for the petitioner, Yuvraj Narvankar, argued that no construction, repair, or alteration should be permitted in the prohibited area of the temple while the PIL is under adjudication. Killedar submitted that there has been no response from authorities and the police despite multiple representations.
The court order states: "The Respondent Nos. 7, 8, and 11 are directed to look into the matter and, if any such communications are pending in their offices, to take necessary steps at the earliest to preserve the area of Kopeshwar Temple." Respondents 7 and 8 are the district collectors of Kolhapur and Sangli, respectively, while Respondent 11 is the sarpanch of Khidrapur gram panchayat.
The court also asked Killedar to place on record copies of communications made by central authorities to the respondents.
