Lucknow: The bank accounts of Lord Rama continued to swell. The new figure crossed the Rs 2500 crore mark and is still counting.
Releasing the new figure, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teeth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai said in a statement that about 10 crore Indian families had donated in the 44-day Samarpan Nidhi Abhyina, which concluded on February 27.
"Though the final figure will be announced after audit this month end but so far Rs 2500 crores have been deposited in banks," claimed he, hinting that the figure may cross over Rs 3000 crore mark as Ram Bhakts who missed donations continue to transfer money online across the country.
On the issue of launching a Global Samarpan Nidhi Abhiyan facilitating Ram Bhakts across the world to make donations for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Rai said that they will have to wait a little. “I appeal to Ram Bhakts across the world to have a little more patience. We will inform them after completing the regulatory formalities and seeking permissions from the authorities concerned,” said he.
His statement confirms that the Trust has decided to launch a global fund collection drive by April to meet construction expenses for the expansion of the temple complex to 107 acres from present 70 acres.
On the progress of work done at the temple site, the Trust General Secretary said that 60 per cent work for digging foundation has been completed and the experts from Chennai have tested the soil to decide what material will be used to lay the foundation.
“We expect that work of foundation laying as per new design would begin sometime next month,” he said.
