WARANGAL URBAN: Several temples built during the Kakatiya kings period have been brought down in the name of renovation. Work on these sites has been going on for a very long time. The 1,000 Pillar temple’s ‘natya mandapam’ was demolished in 2005 but renovation work is not finished yet.
In some places, the precious debris pieces are left unguarded, and are being stolen. The Chowndeshwaralayam temple in Kondaparthi was demolished completely in 2014. “The dismantled pieces are being stolen to be used as stones in house construction. The finest of sand was used for the foundation of this temple. Even that is being stolen,” said local archaeologist Aravind Pakide.In Nidigonda of Raghunathapalli mandal in Jangaon district, the Trikutalayam was brought down in 1983. After 33 years, reconstruction is still on.
About Rs 20 lakh was sanctioned in 2012 to repair the support pillars of the Ekaveera temple in Mogilicherla. Except for a few sandbags, pictured right, there has been no sign of any renovation in the past four years
Crores of rupees are being released by the state archaeology department for these temples and it was alleged that some of this is being misused by officials. Some officials reportedly started demolishing temples with an eye on the renovation funds.
The Ekaveera temple in Mogilicherla is intact except for four pillars at the entrance. Still the archaeology department decided to demolish it in 2012. About Rs 20 lakh was sanctioned. As support to the temple, bags filled with gravel have been arranged to support the pillars with the money. The work never took off from there.
The Trikutalayam in Jangaon district was brought down in 1983. The reconstruction has been continuing for 33 years. (Photo: DC)
There are renovation funds available but there is lack of manpower including skilled sculptors. Also, coordination between various departments is missing that has resulted in many temples being left as heaps of debris. “The skill of that time cannot be replicated by the people of the present time,” said senior historian H.P. Sanath Kumar.
