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Kendrapara, August 20: The sprawling ashram founded by arrested self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raula in this district was officially evaluated at `4.48 crore.
The ashram, stretched across 2.47 acres at Barimula, has a 3,760 sq/ft double-storied main building and was evaluated at Rs 1.18 crore, while the cost of a three-storied guesthouse was estimated at Rs 94.33 lakh, executive engineer, roads and buildings division, MM Khan said.
The library building was valued at Rs 70 lakh while the value of the inquiry and reception counters of the ashram was assessed at Rs 17.05 lakh, he said. The prayer halls with pipe and angle frame structures were valued at Rs 43 lakh. The compound wall of the ashram was of estimated value of Rs 28 lakh as per current market price.
Besides, the courtyard and parking space area was of estimated value of `80 lakh, Khan said.
Major portions of the main building had ceramic tile and marble flooring.
There were also decorative gypsum board ceilings in the main building, guesthouse and prayer halls.
Electrical installations were valued at Rs 5.17 lakh while nearly Rs 11 lakh was estimated to have been spent
for putting in place sanitation and sewerage facility.
“The assessment was done on direction given to us by the Crime Branch. The evaluators of roads and buildings division here, however, could not assess the cost of the beautifully designed three-way structured Sarathi temple. The team of evaluators was not technically competent to assess the temple’s value. The engineers of state archaeology department were more knowledgeable to assess such a temple structure. Movable assets traced at the ashram were also not assessed by us,” said Khan.
The ashram was replete with several structures of gods and goddesses.
It had sculptures of animals like tiger, bear, turtles, crocodiles, monkeys, hippopotamus, peacock, deer, crocodile, swan and zebra. It had four decorative gates for entry and exit to the ashram.
The construction of such decorative gates was a costly affair. However, it could not be estimated on technical grounds, Khan said.