Reconstruction of quake-damaged Dharahara in public’s expenses: PM Oli

Kathmandu / February 16: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has announced that the quake-damaged landmark monument in Kathmandu— Dharahara will be rebuilt with public money. Also known as the Bhimsen tower after Nepal’s first Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa, the nine-storey tower is believed to have been constructed in the 19th century.

The tower will be built in its original style albeit bigger than previous size, PM Oli pledged at a programme organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation at Sundhara in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

The programme ‘National Commitment on Reconstruction of Historical Dharahara’ was inaugurated by PM Oli. “Let’s vow that we build the Dharahara ourselves. It’s our historical monument, pride of the country,” argued Oli.

He was of the opinion that if the cultural heritages are built with public expense, it would instill sense of people’s belongingness towards those structures.

PM Oli urged the public, in and outside of the country, every nationalities and professionals to contribute to this cause. “The new Dharahara will have underground parking space too,” he said, pledging to chip in his one month’s salary to the re-making of the Dharahara.

Also speaking at the programme, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel said that the reconstruction of the Dharahara will commence from today as announcement has been made to build it in public’s expenses.

Likewise, Chief Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyawali explained that the reconstruction of Dharahara was to be undertaken in public’s expenses to let everyone feel it belongs to them.

Present at the event were UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Deputy Prime Ministers Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Kamal Thapa, Bhim Rawal and CP Mainali.

Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel, Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Agni Kharel, Minister for Forests and Soil Conversation Agni Sapkota among other Ministers and State-Ministers also attended the event. RSS