Controversies delay opening of rebuilt Kasthamandap sattal

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 24: People passing through the Kasthamandap area notice that the newly rebuilt monument is locked from all sides, preventing people from entering  it. 

Kasthamandap sattal, a historic and iconic monument standing at the heart of the city, after which the capital is named Kathmandu, is mired in controversies and uncertainties even after the completion of its reconstruction. 

The monument, severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake, was rebuilt and officially reopened on April 4, 2022, by the then President Bidya Devi Bhandari. However, shortly after its reopening, its gates have been closed to the public.

The delay in its reopening, along with a lack of transparency regarding the monument's current status, has only frustrated the locals.

Residents, particularly those from the Marutwo Pucha Tole Improvement Committee and the heritage activists, have expressed their dissatisfaction by displaying banners around the archaeologically important monument. These banners demand explanations as to why the monument remains closed and express concerns about the missing original Goraknath and Ganesh idols. Locals have also questioned the installation of new idols inside the monument without proper explanation.

Organising a press meet in August, 2021, the Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC) announced that the reconstruction work had been completed. However, public frustration has grown as the KRC has kept the monument inaccessible, preventing locals from performing daily worship there.

Kiran Shrestha, a member of the KRC, expressed dissatisfaction with the committee's internal working process. He said that he was not informed about the activities of the committee and was not invited to meetings. He also criticised the committee for being a puppet of a few selected individuals loyal to Rajesh Shakya, the committee's chairman. Shrestha alleged that the committee functioned for two years without a treasurer, raising concerns about potential financial irregularities.

Shrestha further claimed, "Shakya, the chairperson of the KRC, inaugurated the monument despite opposition from locals and when a case was pending in the Supreme Court, but made no serious effort to reopen it. He also managed a guard for the monument at night after the inauguration.”

Amid growing concerns and a lack of clear answers from the responsible bodies, the future of the Kasthamandap remains uncertain. Locals are demanding that the monument be reopened and made accessible to the public.

Rajendra Manandhar, Ward Chairperson of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 20 and a member of the KRC, stated that the committee has over 50 members, but only a few are involved in the decision-making process. 

Manandhar also noted that KMC had not yet taken responsibility for the Kasthamandap from the KRC, raising concerns about potential financial issues. The KRC’s decision to install new idols of Goraknath and four Ganesh idols without consulting the locals has also sparked controversy. The Supreme Court had ordered that no new idol be installed in the monument, yet the KRC has not replaced the new idols with the original ones.

Local heritage activist Ganapati Lal Shrestha said that the concerned authorities of KRC have not made their audit report public and there was a lack of financial transparency. “As a result, they have kept the monument locked to limit it. It seems the KRC wants to incite the frustrated locals to open it forcefully,” Shrestha said.

He said, “The KRC is using the case as an excuse to keep the monument locked, but the issue of reopening it is not related to the SC case. The installation of new idols was done against the wishes of the Department of Archaeology, KMC, the local ward, and the community.”

Yadav Ghimire, Director at the Internal Audit Unit of KMC and a committee member, said that two committees, technical and financial, were formed about a year ago to study the Kasthamandap reconstruction issue. 

Ghimire further stated that during the study, they asked the authorised KRC members to submit bills and documents for reviewing the audit report, but they did not provide any. Instead, KRC submitted an audit report prepared by their chosen auditor in their format. 

The Department of Archaeology (DoA) has studied the technical aspects of Kasthamandap and has recently prepared a report. The report will be submitted to KMC, said Saubhagya Pradhananga, Director General at the DoA.

The audit report of Kasthamandap has already been submitted to KMC, but the then Mayor of KMC, Bidhya Sundar Shakya, refused to accept the key of the monument. The administrative officer of KMC also declined to receive the key, said Rajesh Shakya, Chairman of KRC.

A public hearing was held regarding the installation of new idols to replace the ones broken by the earthquake. During the public hearing, religious leaders suggested not to use the broken idols for worship, he said.

KMC has shown irresponsibility by failing to be accountable for the Kasthamandap, despite working for its reconstruction, Rajesh Shakya said.