Concerned over sound vibrations causing damage to the 10-century Khajuraho temple structures, the Madhya Pradesh government has approached the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to change the direction of an airstrip situated nearby to ensure that planes don’t fly over them.

Experts have long warned about the harm to the western group of temples at Khajuraho from aircraft landing or taking off nearby. The state government is apprehensive that if this situation continues, Khajuraho may slip from UNESCO’s list of a World Heritage Site to a ‘World Heritage in Danger’.

While the AAI is yet to respond to the state government’s request, the Civil Aviation Ministry is learnt to have stepped in.

“The ASI has been complaining about the damage being caused to these monuments. We have told the AAI that the MP government is even willing to share the cost of changing the direction of the airstrip. These temples are priceless and we want to preserve them,” says MP Aviation and Tourism Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains.

While the ASI has been pressing for relocating the airstrip, officials said that even a decision to change its direction could go a long way in stopping further damage to the structures.