The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will recommend that exhaust fans be installed in Kedarnath to preventsediments from being deposited on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum.
ASI director (Science) KS Rana said that some work has been done for removal of the 1.5 inch thick layer of soot and ghee deposits on the inner walls of the shrine and the text and other etchings revealed have been sampled by the Epigraphy branch of ASI which is now being studied.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Heritage Week inauguration, Rana said that due to lack of cleaning, the accumulated layer of soot and ghee on the walls inside Kedarnath shrine had covered the scripts and other etchings on the walls. "Since ghee becomes hard in the cold, we worked hard to remove the deposits covering the wall. We used heat treatment and ensure that the minimum required chemicals were used in the cleaning which was started after disaster struck Kedarnath in June this year. Our Epigraphy branch based in Mysore has already taken a stamp of these inscriptions on the wall of the shrine which will be released in the future after being documented," said Rana, while stressing on the need for regular cleaning to stop the decay and stabilise portions of the shrine. He said that the ASI cannot recommend stopping any activities at the shrine, but will recommend installing of exhaust fans inside the shrine which lacks proper ventilation.
Rana further informed that from the conservation point of view, the ASI is keen to take up work on Kedarnath, Badrinath and other shrines in Uttarakhand. "We can provide technical support to preserve monuments maintained by the government or some trust but have received no such requests so far," he added.