The Bombay High Court has questioned the proposed expenditure of over Rs 22 crore on a compound wall and a river ghat near the 12th-century Kopeshwar Temple in Kolhapur’s Khidrapur village, observing that preserving the heritage structure should take precedence. The court described the expenditure as “beyond comprehension” when the temple itself requires urgent conservation.
Justices Milind N Jadhav and Nandesh S Deshpande of the high court’s Kolhapur bench observed while hearing a PIL seeking preservation, protection and restoration of the heritage site. The bench noted that two huge cracks have developed on the temple’s ceiling, one in the inner sanctum and another at the entrance, with water seeping heavily into the temple’s south side.
The court observed that three of the 48 load-bearing pillars in the temple’s outer Swarga Mandap are damaged, with one supported by metal props installed by the Archaeological Survey of India requiring immediate attention. The bench expressed reservations about spending Rs 10 crore on a compound wall and Rs 12.84 crore on a river ghat located 200 metres away from the temple.
The court appointed a five-member committee of advocates to inspect the temple site and submit a report within four weeks. It directed that temple conservation must be prioritised before any allied development works. The bench posted further hearing to August 31.
Bombay High Court calls Rs 22-crore expenditure on Kopeshwar Temple compound wall and river ghat “beyond comprehension”; appoints committee to inspect site.
