India, Sept. 1 -- Resting in a quiet grove of mango and tamarind trees on the banks of the Waldhuni River, the Shiva Temple at Ambarnath is a timeless masterpiece of the Shilahara Dynasty. Almost a thousand years after it was built, this archaeological treasure is now at risk.

The local civic body is using the temple's historical significance to push a commercial agenda by allegedly violating legal provisions protecting archaeological monuments. The work being undertaken - such as constructing a commercial plaza within the prohibited area - could even threaten the temple's structural integrity.

Controversy erupted in January 2023, when Sarita Khanchandani, an advocate who runs Hirali Foundation, an environmental NGO, had secured details...