Ayodhya, July 11 (IANS) Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman, Nripendra Misra, on Saturday termed the recent donation theft at the Ram Mandir as a matter of “deep regret” and assured that the temple administration would strengthen its systems to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the temple’s construction progress, Misra said the incident had caused concern among everyone associated with the project.

“The incident that occurred at the Ram Mandir is a matter of deep regret for all of us. We not only feel sorry, but also feel diminished by what has happened. It is a matter related to the system, and improvements will certainly be made. I have full faith that such incidents will not be repeated,” he said.

Providing an update on the construction work, Misra said the temple project has entered its final phase, with only two major tasks yet to be completed.

“The first task relates to the old temple and its memorial. Most of the work has been completed, but the arrangement for the 24-hour ‘jwala’ is still pending. Apart from that, the construction work is complete. The second task is the completion of the memorial, which is expected to be finished by the end of July,” he said.

Misra also reviewed the progress of the temple’s boundary wall and expressed confidence that it would be completed within the scheduled timeline.

“I inspected the site yesterday, and based on the current pace of work, I am confident that the boundary wall will be completed by September 30,” he said.

Highlighting the religious and cultural significance of the Ram Mandir, Misra said the temple occupies a unique place in the hearts of devotees across the world.

“Every temple deserves our devotion and respect, but the Ram Lalla temple holds a special place because it has been built after a long struggle at what is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. This makes it extraordinary. The number of devotees visiting this temple will never decline. I believe every follower of Sanatan Dharma will wish to visit this sacred place at least once in their lifetime,” he said.

On the mechanism for reviewing issues related to the temple, Misra said a high-level committee oversees important matters.

“The committee is headed by a retired judge, who submits recommendations directly to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Trust considers these recommendations before taking any decision,” he said.

Misra further said that the Construction Committee regularly holds review meetings attended by representatives of L&T, TCE, Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, Engineers India Limited, and other agencies involved in the execution of the Ram Mandir project. He added that these meetings help monitor progress and ensure timely completion of the remaining work.

–IANS

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