Temple Trust finalises foundation design

RPI C’garh president booked for donations on fake receipt AVDHESH MALLICK Raipur

The Ram Janambhoomi Kshetra Teerth Trust, entrusted with the Ram temple construction, finally approved the design for laying the foundation of the temple in Ayodhya. The drawings of the approved design are expected to reach Ayodhya by February 15 to begin the foundation laying.

The design was approved by the Trust members during their meeting in Ayodhya on Friday. Trust general secretary Champat Rai told the media Larsen and Tourbo and Tata Cosultancy Services engineers, architects and designers gave a presentation to the Trust members during the meeting. “Trust members have approved the design. Drawings for the approved design are expected to reach Ayodhya by February 15 to begin construction for foundation laying,” said Rai. He, however, remained noncommittal on the exact date to begin the construction for laying the foundation.

Till then, Rai said, the work for removing the debris and garbage, which began on Thursday after performing puja and havan, will continue. “They might have to dig up to 40 feet up to the level of the natural earth to give a goahead for construction laying the foundation,” clarified Rai on the delay.

The main worry of the Trust members, engineers, designers and architects is construction of the retaining wall surrounding the Saryu bank. They want the wall construction with special stones and material so it lasts a thousand years and even if the river changes course.

Rai said the Trust also held a meeting on Thursday with senior police, district and security officials to discuss plans for strengthening security during the temple construction. “There will be a change in the security plan for the complex when construction begins on a warfoot level,” he said.

Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri said due to the change in foundation design, the cost of the temple has gone up from Rs1,100 crore to Rs1,500. “It might escalate further if proposed expansion of the temple complex is taken into account,” he said.

The Trust is, however, not worried about the cost. “It will be a magnificent and unique structure. An architectural marvel, no matter how much it costs. We will launch the donation drive again to meet the extra expenses,” he said. To collect more donations, the VHP targets to reach 12 crore people in 5 lakh villages. The drive will continue till Feb 27 and if needed will be launched again.

The matter of fund collection for underconstruction Ram Temple in Ayodhya took another turn when Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur police lodged an FIR against the Republican Party state party chief on charges of forgery.

SHO Sandip Ratre, police station, Civil Lines Bilaspur said, “Police have lodged an FIR against Usha Aafle under IPC sections 419 and 420 and are probing the matter.”

The action was taken on the complaint of Sandip Gupta and Lalit Makhija who were authorised by ‘Ram Mandir Construction Central Committee’ for local fund collection. The collected funds are known as Samarpan Fund.

All the donors were given receipts by the committee. However, nobody is authorised to give a personal account number in the receipt or get printed personally.

Aafle had not only printed the receipt and given her account number but also appealed to people on social media for donation, he said.

Police are probing the case to know as to how much money she collected and others.

Republican Party leader Ramdas Athawale is a Union Minister in the NDA Government.