Budget allocated to reconstruct six quake-damaged heritage settlements

Kathmandu / Mar 11: National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has allocated budget to accelerate the reconstruction process of various six quake-damaged heritage settlements in and outside of Kathmandu Valley.

According to the Central Project Implementation Unit, a total of Rs 120 million has been allocated to conduct study on those six such settlements – three from Kathmandu valley and three others from outside of Valley- while Rs 300 million for the reconstruction of all.

The 7.8 magnitude Gorkha Earthquake on April 25, 2015 had caused damage to several monuments and settlements of historical and archeological significance in and outside of the Valley. Delays in their reconstruction, retrofitting and renovation were attributed to lack of budget, artisans and lack of coordination among the concerned agencies.

To carry out study, Rs 2 million has been spared for each heritage settlements, shared Project Director Nawaraj Pyakurel. In the first phase, Rs 50 million will be released to reconstruct or renovate each quake-damaged heritage within the current fiscal year.

Reconstruction of heritage settlements, monuments and other archeological structures in Khokana (Lalitpur), Bungmati (Lalitpur) and Sankhu (Kathmandu) in the Valley would be prompted as the budget is released.

Similarly, budget would be released for the reconstruction of the Seven-storey Durbar at Nuwakot, the Gorkha Durbar in Gorkha district and Dolakha Bazar in Dolakha district where there is Bhimeshwor Mandir, all lying outside of the Valley.

Pyakurel believed that reconstruction of these heritage sites help conserve our unique and traditional heritages as well as boost the internal and external tourism, contributing to job creations.

Likewise, research and development works could be conducted in the Pashupati Area, Changunarayam Temple Area, Swayambhunath Area and Bouddha Area. The Durbar Square Areas in all three districts in Kathmandu valley – Kathmandu Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – would be conserved and promoted under this project.