It’s high time for Satavahana’s capital
Karimnagar January 7th, 2014: The ancient KotiLingala temple shrine in Velgatoormandal which is on the verge of submergence under SripadaYellampalli project in Karimnagar district.
With the stage set for inaugural of Yellampalli project, people are raising their voice against the submergence of KotiLingala village
The ancient and historic Sri Koteshwara and SiddeshwaraSwamyDevasthanam located on the shores of the Godavari in KotiLingala village of Velgatoormandal, which would be submerged in the back waters of the SripadaYellampalli project, is back in the news over its protection from submergence.
The State Archaeology Department identified KotiLingala 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 village
With 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 TelanganaJagruthi programmes and disciplinary committee T. TirupathiRao and others visited the KotiLingala village and spoke to the villagers about the government measures for the protection of the village from submergence.
TirupathiRao said the backwaters of SripadaYellampalli 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.
