ASI files progress report on Ayodhya excavation before HC

LUCKNOW: The Archaeological Survey of India on Monday filed its progress report on the excavation works being carried out at the acquired land in Ayodhya in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.
The ASI informed the court that it has not, till now, reached the level of the natural soil in any of the trenches. It has not completely closed the work in any trench.
The Special Bench, comprising Justice S R Alam, Justice Bhanwar Singh and Justice Sudhir Narain, had on April 10 directed the ASI to file its progress report on Monday.
The ASI, in its report, said the size of the excavation team was almost doubled and more archaeologists and technical staff were made available to it.

More areas were selected in the already laid out demarcations of the trenches around the disputed structure, it said, adding the basis of selecting further trenches for excavation was the ground penetrating radar survey carried out at the site.
It said by April 24 last, 33 trenches were excavated fully or partially upto various depths as per the requirement in view of collecting relevant evidence.

As the objective of the excavation was very clear, emphasis had been given to excavate only upto a certain depth although deposits at the mound seemed to be more than eight metres at some points, it said, adding most of the trenches had not been excavated beyond two metres depth.

The large size masonry blocks and stone blocks from the western slope of the disputed structure had been carefully removed to a safer place further west with the help of a crane so that they might not get damaged, it said.