Expert team to assess restoration works at Kedarnath shrine

An expert team today left for Kedarnath to assess the restoration works carried out at the eight century shrine, which was hit by the deluge in Uttarakhand last year.
The two-member team comprising officials from the Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has gone for a routine assessment, Additional Director General of ASI B R Mani said.
"The temple is closed during winter. So, it is the right time for assessment," he said.
Major works to be accomplished at the site this year by ASI include packing stones wherever missing, providing wooden flooring, cleaning the temple area and repairing the roof over its Mandapa, a press release here said.

After the reopening of Kedarnath Temple in May this year, a six-member team from ASI has been stationed at the site and has started conservation works there. A team from IIT, Chennai, along with ASI, visited Kedarnath temple on June 6 and 7 and submitted it provisional report based on the site inspection of the shrine.
A geo-technical team from IIT, Chennai, would be visiting the shrine from June 17 to 20 to carry out geo-physical testing of the site of the structure through 'multi-channel analysis of spectral waves (MASW) tests.
Once that report is available, the necessary underpinning and repairs to the foundation of the temple, if required, will be carried out, the release said.

It also said Rs two crores have been earmarked for ASI for the restoration works of Kedarnath shrine.