By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, March 1: Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Chief Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Shushil Gyawali and Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Bidhya Sundar Shakya jointly carried out bhoomi pooja to mark the beginning of work of conservation and restoration of Seto Machhindranath temple on Sunday.
The conservation work of Seto Machhindranath temple is the first of the 28 cultural heritage conservation and restoration projects being undertaken with a provision of Rs. 5800 million committed by India for the cultural heritage sector in Nepal.
All the 28 sites were identified by Nepal and both India and Nepal signed an MoU in this regard in August 2017. The Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) of NRA is the implementing agency of the projects.
The Seto Machhindranath Temple located at Keltol, Kathmandu, will be conserved as per Nepal’s Ancient Monument Preservation Act, and the Department of Archaeology’s Basic Guidelines and Manual for conservation and reconstruction of heritage affected by 2015 earthquake using material akin to the original building material at the time of its construction as per the traditional ethos, local traditions and values that sustains and enriches such living heritage sites in Nepal, said the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been engaged to provide technical support during the conservation and restoration work as per the Detailed Project Report approved by Nepal.
The temple was built in the 10th century AD during Malla era, which was damaged during the 2015 earthquake.
The temple located in the heart of Kathmandu city is visited by Hindus and Buddhist devotees.
Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi, officials of NRA and others were present on the occasion.