KATHMANDU: The world is observing the World Heritage Day with a renewed commitment to rebuild, protect and preserve valuable heritages handed down to us by our ancestors.
A total of 173 heritages within seven world heritages featured in the world heritage list sustained fully or partially damaged in the mega earthquake that devastated Nepal on April 25, 2015.
Out of the 173 world heritages, 75 heritages have been reconstructed, 33 are under construction while 65 are yet to be reconstructed.
Many heritages were seen broken at Pashupati area during this reporting. The devastating earthquake had damaged 58 heritages. Of them, only 19 heritages have been built so far.
As many as 86 temples including Shivalayas located at Mrigasthali area, Dyochhe Guthighar, Kiranteshwar Sattal (shelter), Saptami Sattal, Chandrabinayak Temple, Bishwaswarupa Temple, Laxminarayan Temple, Narsing Temple, Jayabageshwari Temple had been damaged.
Some of these heritages are seen being propped up while the grass is seen growing on some of the fallen heritages. Only a few heritages are under construction.
Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has constructed Lalganeshwor Temple for Rs 5 hundred thousand, spent Rs 20 million for clearing away debris, Rs 5 hundred thousand for the construction of priests’ (Bhatta) residence Rs 5 hundred thousand for a shelter for podes (cleaners). Similarly, Ratna Shakya has reconstructed a building for worshipping ancestors (Shraddha paty) at the cost of Rs10 million.
Similarly, construction work for five Shivalayas located at Guheshwori area, and one Shivalaya of the white temple is yet to start.
The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has been rebuilding the damaged heritages in the Pashupati area. According to the NRA, the estimated cost of the entire construction is Rs 3 billion 268 hundred 68 thousand, 3 hundred 74 thousand.
NRA has set a goal to complete the reconstruction works by 2077/78 BS.
However, the PADT said the reconstruction work would not be completed within the deadline set by the NRA.
PADT Director Bharat Marasini said, “The reconstruction will not complete since it took a long time to sketch the design of the damaged heritages. Further, we are facing the lack of skilled manpower.” “The work is not easy as heritages have to be reconstructed in their original form.”
Likewise, Bouddhanath Stupa, which is listed in the World Heritage, was renovated on time as it was partially damaged in the earthquake, said the Department of Archeology.
The earthquake had destroyed 29 heritages located in Hanuman Dhoka Durbar area. Of the total heritages, 16 heritages were reconstructed in their original form while the 13 are planned to be completed by the fiscal year 2077/78, said Ram Bahadur Kunwar, spokesperson of Department of Archeology.
Similarly, of the total 18 heritages destroyed by the earthquake in Swoyambhu area, 15 have been reconstructed while the remaining two will be completed in the current fiscal year.
Similarly, in the Patan area, one of the world heritages, 30 heritages had been damaged. Of them, the construction of 11 world heritages has been completed.
The earthquake had damaged 21 heritages in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Of them, 17 heritages have been reconstructed. Likewise, out of eight heritages destroyed by the earthquake in Changunarayan area, five have been constructed.
All the reconstruction work will be over by 2077/78, claimed the Department of Archeology.
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