Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur bench directs Archaeological Survey of India to decide on Kopeshwar temple conservation plan by May 21

Kolhapur: The Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur bench has directed the Archaeological Survey of India to take a decision on the pending Annual Conservation Programme for the Kopeshwar temple at Khidrapur on or before May 21, during a hearing held on May 15. The directive aims to expedite conservation of the 12th-century monument, which a PIL petitioner claims is “neglected, decaying and deteriorating.”Vijay Killedar, the counsel for the Govt of India, ASI and the National Monuments Authority, informed the court that “the Annual Conservation Programme for Khidrapur’s Kopeshwar temple has been forwarded to director generation of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and accordingly, steps will be taken for the conservation of the temple 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.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 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 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,” the court order states.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.