Road widening project threatens heritage structures in Moodubidri

Road widening project threatens heritage structures in Moodubidri

Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, November 8: Two heritage Jain temples in Moodubidri are in danger of being demolished because of the road-widening project; but the people of Moodubidri are determined to save them.

NH 13, which connects Nanthoor to Hospet, passes through Moodubidri. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) plans to widen the 3-km stretch from Moodubidri to Alangar, in the process of which the current 18-ft road will be widened to 45 feet. If everything happens as per the NHAI plan, two historic, centuries-old Jain temples will lose their perimeter walls.

The endangered heritage structures are Kere Basadi and Baikana Trikarana Basadi. So far, discussions between local Jain leaders and former DC V. Ponnuraj haven’t made much of a difference. Jain leaders have revealed that only Swami Panditacharyavarya Bhattaraka Swamiji of Moodubidri Jain Mutt can save these heritage structures. Explaining the matter, Tahsildar of Moodubidri Muralidhar said that the Jain leaders have offered the other side of the land for road widening, but it has to be cleared by the swamiji.

Dr. Amrut Malla says that the basadis were constructed in the 13th century. Earlier in 2010, the basadis had received Rs. 40 lakh from the National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage to restore them to their original condition.