Bhaktapur. During the six years of the Gorkha earthquake, 134 small and large heritages have been reconstructed in Bhaktapur. The earthquake on April 29, 2072 BS had damaged 213 properties in Bhaktapur. Of them, 134 have been reconstructed, according to Bhaktapur Memorial Preservation and Palace Care Center.
Er. Mohan Singh Lama of Bhaktapur Memorial Preservation and Palace Care Center informed that 12 properties damaged by the earthquake are being reconstructed and 20 properties are under reconstruction. The quake affected Bhaktapur municipality the most out of four local levels. A total of 145 properties in the rich city of Bhaktapur were damaged. Similarly, 23 properties were damaged in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, 29 in Suryabinayak Municipality and 16 in Changunarayan Municipality, said E Lama.
Mayor Sunil Prajapati said that out of 145 damaged properties of Bhaktapur Municipality, 108 properties have been reconstructed and restored. According to him, 23 temples, 40 pavilions, 6 dyoches, 3 entrance gate, 8 ponds, 7 dug wells, 8 sattals, 7 stone fountains and 6 other properties have been reconstructed and renovated in Bhaktapur so far, while more than a dozen other properties are under renovation.
Renovation of world famous Ngatapolha temple (five storey temple) in Bhaktapur city, reconstruction of Vatsala temple in Durbar area, Chapal Bhairav Dyo in Bhaktapur Municipality-4, Chasindeg in Bhaktapur-5 Lyosinkhyo: Reconstruction in Bholachen Pukhu in Bhanpa-6, Bhanpa. He said that the work including the Gay Bhindyo Bridge at 7 has been completed.
Reconstruction of 7 properties in Madhyapur Thimi has been completed. Similarly, two are being reconstructed and four are in the process of being started. Reconstruction of 10 properties in Changunarayan Municipality has been completed. Four are being reconstructed here and four are being prepared to start.
Out of 29 damaged properties in Suryabinayak Municipality, only 9 have been reconstructed so far. He said that two are being reconstructed and six are under reconstruction. In the current Fiscal Year 2077/07, 28 properties were assigned to the National Museum and 12 to the Monument Preservation and Palace Care Center. However, the two bodies have not been able to fulfill their responsibilities.
The cost estimates of only 15 of the 28 assigned to the art museum have been submitted. Of these, 5 have been reconstructed and 10 are under construction. Similarly, the cost estimate of 13 properties could not be prepared, said E Lama.
Similarly, only 2 out of 12 works in charge of monument protection and palace care have been completed and 9 works are underway. Er. Lama said that no work of a heritage could be done. Reconstruction of Bhaktapur Kai Terracotta Dyo Chhe and Vishwakarma Dyo Chhe has been halted as the former structure of two Jagannath temples including Bhaktapur Khauma and Arani's Sabha Bhawan could not be ascertained.
Lama said that the work of conserving Yaksheshwor Mahadev of Bhaktapur city could not be done due to lack of time and lack of budget for the current fiscal year. He said that the contract for the protection of Balakhu Ganesh Dyo Cheh in Bhaktapur had been signed but the work could not be done due to non-performance of the work.
Among the completed properties are Suryabinayak Municipality-4, Radhakrishna Temple in Tarkhagal and Makale Pati Samrakshana, Vappa Bishweshwar Mahadev Temple in Madhyapur Thimi-4 and Ward no. Reconstruction of Ganesh Temple and Sattal of 7 Nagdesh, red carpet of Suryabinayak-7 are being done.
Due to various problems and challenges in the reconstruction and protection of the heritage, the work could not be completed on time. Lama explained. According to him, there is a problem of not being able to get the work done within the stipulated time due to the compelling situation of accepting the bids of the construction businessmen who have promised minimum through open competition.
He said that there is a problem in the reconstruction of the heritage due to the tradition of centralizing the budget arrangement for the conservation of the property from the office, lack of interest in the protection of the heritage, number of damaged properties and lack of resources for protection and reconstruction.
Similarly, lack of skilled manpower and Kaligarh, inadequate availability and quantity of traditional construction materials as per requirement, inability to follow the tradition of preparing detailed structure reports and processing accordingly Lack of sensitivity and coordination has also led to delays in heritage reconstruction.
Due to increasing urbanization, commercialization and high land prices, the tendency to encroach on ancient monuments by private ownership and private use, the authenticity, historicity, sensitivity of the protected monument area / site as well as the importance of the heritage and site are declining day by day. Lama explained.
Due to the lack of detailed archiving of some properties, some changes or additional work has to be done in the reconstruction or conservation work and due to various difficulties and challenges encountered during the reconstruction / protection of the heritage, the reconstruction of the heritage is being delayed.
