Reconstrution of 24 heritage sites complete

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 19: Reconstruction of the heritage sites on the bank of the Bagmati River from Thapathali to Teku Dobhan (confluence), which were damaged by the 2015 earthquake, is moving ahead smoothly. 

Implemented in three phases, the project works of the first two phases have been completed. 

As of now, 24 heritage sites of the area have been reconstructed under the Bagmati Beautification Project of the High Powered Committee for the Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilisation (HPCIDBC).   The 2015 earthquake had caused massive damage to the heritage sites of the area. 

The reconstruction of 24 structures along the Thapathali to Teku Dobhan has been completed so far. The HPCIDBC has been reconstructing the monuments under the Bagmati Beautification Project with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

The project has been carrying out reconstruction, retrofitting, maintenance and beautification of the dilapidated heritage. The government has borne 50 per cent of the cost of the reconstruction. The remaining 50 per cent is loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank, according to HPCIDBC. 

In the first phase of the project, 11 reconstructed structures have already been handed over to Guthi Sansthan and private guthis.  Rs. 388.2 million was allocated for the reconstruction in the first phase of the project.

Manandhar Sattal, Munshi Ghat Sattal and Panchanari Ghat belong to the private guthis. Shiva Temple, Lakshmeshwar Temple, Lakshmeshwar Sattal, Pujari Sattal, Rajbhandari Sattal, Purohit Ghat Sattal and West Sattal were handed over to Guthi Sansthan.

In the second phase, the reconstruction of 13 heritage structures has been completed for Rs. 486.4 million. Of these, Mathema Sattal is a private guthi. So far, its trustees have not come in contact with it. Likewise, the Dharamshala in Tripureshwor is being used by the Nepal Police.

Tin Deval Temples, Narayan Sattal, Shiva Temple, Sitaram Temple and Hanuman Sattal have already been retrofitted.  

The third phase of renovation and retrofitting works is being carried out for Rs. 451.31 million. 

Kalamochan Ghat Sattal, Bairagi Sattal, Udasi Sattal and Sanyasi Sattal are being reconstructed. 

A park is being built at a cost of over Rs. 1 billion under the joint funding of the government and the Asian Development Bank by constructing a wall on either side of the river.

ADB has invested Rs.1.05 billion to reconstruct the monuments of the Thapathali to Teku Dobhan area.