New Delhi: Champat Rai, general secretary of Ram Temple Trust said that its structure will be earthquake resistant and withstand natural calamities for a thousand years.
Addressing the media, Rai said that the temple would be constructed in such a way that it would stand for at least 1,000 years.
"The stone that will be used in the construction will be such that air, sun and water decay will not happen for at least 1,000 years. The construction company L&T has got the best people. IIT Chennai has been consulted for testing the strength of the soil and the Central Building Research Institute will make sure the building is earthquake-resistant," Rai told reporters.
The foundation will stand on 1,200 pillars of one-metre diameter filled with concrete up to 30m below the ground level and no iron will be used. On these pillars, the concrete platform will be built at ground level.
Rai said that concrete pillars need to go down deep so that earthquake cannot damage the building. "The soil level at 60 metres below the surface can settle in 500 years. But if that is within one centimetre, then there is no threat to the building. Care is taken for that."
The Ram Temple Trust's priority was to build the temple as other facilities in the 60-acre land can wait. The temple will come up in 2.77 acres.
"All care is being taken to build the grand temple. But it cannot come up before 36 months. It will take up to 40 months. Even the prime minister said three years," Rai said.
Rai also laid to rest controversies surrounding the August 5 'Bhoomi pujan' ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"People asked why LK Advani, MM Joshi and Kalyan Singh were not invited. How can anyone have better relations than us? They have worked for the temple. It was due to their age and health that they were advised against coming," he said.
He further said that 184 saints representing 36 spiritual traditions attended the function. They came from all states in the country and even represented tribals.
"Questions were asked why no Dalit saint was invited. Once a Dalit has turned a saint, he is no longer known by his caste,” Rai added.
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