It could be a gold rush in vain. For all the brouhaha and frenzy that has been created over the reports of the presence of Gold at the Raja Ram Singh Bux Fort, the Geological Preliminary Report states that at the depth of 5-20 metres and 10-20 metres width there could be a possibility of gold, silver or other alloys.
ASI officials contend that no amount has been specified in the GSI report and that the figure of 1000 tonnes was a totally speculative figure. The ASI officials state that the frenzy was unjustified because the report does not indicate the amount present so that the recovery could be of as little as hundred grams.
The GSI preliminary report which is titled “A note on the Preliminary Investigation For unlocking The Potential of Gold Treasure of Martyr Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh at Buxar Unnoa” states “The prominent non magnetic anomalous zone which is 10-20 metres wide and is at a 5-20 metres depth is indicative of possible gold, silver or any other alloys and may be tested by excavation for further interest at the specific site”
Highly placed ASI Official said that they were not carrying out the digging to search some treasure or gold but because there was no option left as far as the circumstances were concerned. “With all the reports floating around of a one housand treasure we were apprehensive that the so called treasure hunters might destroy the archaeological mound and so we thought we would proceed scientifically to get the facts and thus protect the gold” said the Official. He categorically pointed out that it could be any metal which included silver, lead, copper or any other alloy. “The report hints at a non magnetic metal which could be any metal.
Apart from this there the GSI report does not indicate the amount which would be recovered which means it could be as low as hundred grams or one kilogram and the figure of 1,000 tonnes is totally speculative” said the official. On being asked why the ASI proceeded with the digging he said that only the Archaeological Survey of India or any agency authorized by it could perform the excavations.
Digging upto 1.5 metres reveals pottery from the Kushana Period
The digging upto 1.5 metres at Dondiya Khera at Unnao has revealed the presence of potteries of the Kushana period. A senior ASI official while talking to “The Pioneer” said, “If we are getting the Kushana Period pottery at the level of 1.5 metres then we will be going back upto two to three thousand years in antiquity. The pots will be kept for documentation”. Earlier a hearth, a wall and a pot from which animals take water was unearthed on the third day of excavation “The hearth is indicative of human activity, the pot from animals have water dates to seventeenth or eighteenth century AD and the wall is s simple one made of bricks with no significant importance,” said the official. There were no significant development on the fourth day of the digging with the crowds getting minimal every minute. The onlookers have decreased to a great extent said the officials present.