The Hindu : Excavation from tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2003

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Excavation from tomorrow

By J. P. Shukla

FAIZABAD MARCH 10. Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India at the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya will begin on Wednesday in accordance with the directives of the Allahabad High Court to seek evidence whether or not a temple existed in the area where Babar built the mosque.

An ASI team headed by the Superintending Archaeologist, B. R. Mani, which had arrived here on Sunday evening, surveyed the area near the disputed site today and prepared the preliminary plans for excavation. The team later held discussions with the local administration and formed a coordination committee to decide the details of excavation.

The Divisional Commissioner of Faizabad, R. M. Srivastava — who is the Receiver of the acquired land appointed by the Central Government— told newspersons that the coordination committee would meet tomorrow. A tent would be erected in front of the makeshift temple and excavation would be taken up in a 4-metre-by-4-metre area in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

Besides the 14-member ASI team, 52 labourers would be employed. They were issued identity cards today. The Officer on Special Duty appointed by the Allahabad High Court, Narendra Kumar, would be present through the excavation.

Representatives of the parties to the dispute would also be allowed to watch the excavation which would start at 8 a.m. and continue till 5 p.m. Puja and darshan at the makeshift temple will remain unaffected.

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