Project in pipeline to conserve eight unprotected temples at Aihole

In a move aimed at reclaiming and conserving heritage, there are plans to relocate families living in unprotected monuments and temples in Aihole and rehabilitate them.

In a move aimed at reclaiming and conserving heritage, there are plans to relocate families living in unprotected monuments and temples in Aihole and rehabilitate them.

This will also help in conservation and protection of the identified monuments which are outside the ambit of either the Archaeological Survey of India or the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage (DAMH), Government of Karnataka.

Though the ASI has about 609 protected monuments and the DAMH has about 848 monuments under protection, there are thousands of historically important structures – big and small – that are not protected and are on the verge of being obliterated through change of land use pattern induced by development pressure.

For now, eight temples have been identified for conservation and they belong to the period of Chalukyas of Badami – whose dynasty reigned over vast parts of present day Karnataka and surrounding areas between the 6th and the late 8th century CE. The authorities have conducted a survey as per which 134 families are living in them since generations and have been identified for relocation and rehabilitation.

Once the rehabilitation exercise is over and the monuments vacated, the restoration part will be taken up by Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana (SDMD) Trust, which has entered into an MoU with the State government which will foot 50% of the cost while the remaining amount will be put in by SDMD Trust.

In connection with this, about 16 acres of land has also been identified. The cost of land acquisition is pegged at around ₹3 crore to ₹3.5 crore and some of the landowners in the vicinity have come forward to sell land to pave way for the rehabilitation.

The families living in these temples lack basic amenities and facilities like power, UGD, toilets, etc., none of which can be provided or extended inside a monument though illegal powerlines have been drawn for lighting.