Public to donate copper for temple

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be constructed by adhering to India’s ancient and traditional construction techniques; copper plates will be used to fuse stone blocks. Iron will not be used in the construction. The construction has “begun” and currently soil testing at the site is being done. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had performed the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of the temple on August 5.

Members of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Supreme Court appointed trust for the construction of the temple, held a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

Asking ‘Ram bhakts’ to donate copper for the construction, the trust said donors can “engrave family names, place of origin or their community temples’ names” on copper plates which should be 18 inches long, 30 mm wide and three mm in depth.

“This way, the copper plates will not only symbolise the unity of this country but also be a testament to the entire country’s contribution towards mandir construction,” tweeted the trust.

After the meeting, trust’s general-secretary Champat Rai said “We are taking help of Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee and IIT Chennai. 1,200 pillars with one metre diameter will be brought up from depth of 30-35 metre for a strong foundation.”

Engineers from CBRI Roorkee, IIT Madras along with L&T are currently testing the soil at the temple site and the construction work is expected to finish in 36-40 months, said the trust.