Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maha), May 16 (PTI) A 14th century Shiva temple that was dismantled during the construction of the Jayakwadi dam 52 years ago is set to be rebuilt here, an official of the Maharashtra archaeology department said on Thursday.

For the first time in the state such a restoration is going to be attempted, he claimed.

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Two ancient temples located at Shevta and Savkheda villages in Paithan tehsil of the district (then known as Aurangabad) were dismantled in 1972 as the area was about to go under water after the dam was completed.

The stones were brought here and preserved, the official told PTI.

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"A temple that stood in Shevta will be put together on a hillock near Soneri Mahal (a historical palace which now houses an office of the archaeology department) here. The stones have already been numbered, and we will rebuild the temple on that basis," he added.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 3.53 crore for the project and the work will start in two-three months, the official said.

The original temples were built in the `Hemadpanti' style, common in Maharashtra in the medieval era.

The construction of the Jayakwadi dam in Paithan tehsil led to the submersion of nearly 100 villages.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)