Located close to the Dudhiya Lake atop the Pavagadh hill near Halol, the temple was in the news last year after a priest, Maganlal Maharaj, was found illegally occupying the temple for 25 years. Since the temple falls under ASI jurisdiction, it removed all commercial encroachments in July last year.

ASI Superintendent Shivananda Rao said: “Recently, we held a meeting with the higher officials. We will be preparing an estimate for the site and preservation work will begin shortly thereafter.”

H C Verma, Senior Conservation Assistant, Pavagadh, said: “A priest had been occupying this area for the last 25 years. The ASI had issued an ultimatum to him, but he did not honour it. Last year, the ASI removed all encroachments within the temple premises.”

ASI officials alleged that Maharaj had literally transformed the protected monument into a shop selling cold drinks and other food items. He stayed inside the temple with his two sons and daughter-in-law and also used it as a storeroom.