The ancient and historic Sri Koteshwara and Siddeshwara Swamy Devasthanam located on the shores of the Godavari in Koti Lingala village of Velgatoor mandal, which would be submerged in the back waters of the Sripada Yellampalli project, is back in the news over its protection from submergence.
The State Archaeology Department identified Koti Lingala as the protected site as the village was considered to be the first capital of Satavahana dynasty.
The dynasty also used the river shores in the village for transportation of goods as was evident from the wharf constructed with the bricks on the shores.
During the excavations by the Archaeology Department, the authorities recovered rare thrimukha coin (with pictures of Rama, Sita and Laxman) at the site. Even numismatists and historians crusaded for the protection of ancient site.
Ancient villageWith the completion of the project and government contemplating to inaugurate the project very soon, historians and others have again raised the issue of protection of the ancient village from submergence.
Chairman of Telangana Jagruthi programmes and disciplinary committee T. Tirupathi Rao and others visited the Koti Lingala village and spoke to the villagers about the government measures for the protection of the village from submergence.
Talking to The Hindu on Monday, Tirupathi Rao said the backwaters of Sripada Yellampalli project would touch the temple steps on the shores of the river and also submerge precious ancient structures of the dynasty and other Buddhists’ sites.
He demanded that the government should construct a protection wall around the village to protect from submergence and construction of a museum to preserve the antiquities of the dynasty recovered from the village.
He urged the government to construct a guest house for the benefit of visitors and historians doing research on the dynasty.
