Dispute among Archaeology officials over dismantling Tuljabhavani temple spire

Instructions to submit a fresh report within 20 days

Dharashiv, Maharashtra – Differences have arisen among Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials regarding dismantling the spire of Tuljabhavani temple after reports of cracks in the stones around the sanctum sanctorum. While three officials from Nagpur, Mumbai, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have given their opinions, no official written report has yet reached the State Archaeology Department, creating confusion over whether the spire will be dismantled or not.

Minister orders inclusion of IIT experts

On 19 August, Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar held a meeting and directed that IIT experts be included in the inspection and that a fresh report be prepared within 20 days. On the question of what reports the ASI had submitted, Shelar maintained silence, said temple priests’ association president Vipin Shinde.

Controversy over development plan

Work to strengthen the sanctum and stones of Tuljabhavani temple is being carried out using ₹50 crore from temple funds. Separately, the State Government has approved a ₹1,860 crore development plan for the temple. This has caused confusion about which plan the current work belongs to. (This shows why every detail must be clarified when making regulations! – Editor) It is believed that the sanctum strengthening work is part of the State plan. Dharashiv District Collector Kirti Kiran Pujar said that if the spire is included in the ongoing repairs, further restorations every 4–5 years will not be necessary. After the 1993 earthquake, structural changes to strengthen the temple are in its best interest, but this does not mean the temple will be completely altered.

Devotees raise objections

Over 2,000 objections have been submitted on the direction of the temple’s development. Dharashiv MLA Kailas Patil (Thackeray faction) said Tuljabhavani is the Kuladevi (family deity) of Maharashtra, and therefore all reports related to inspections of this temple must be made public.