KATHMANDU, Jan 2: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has sought suggestions from the members of the general public regarding the reconstruction of the historic Rani Pokhari.
KMC administrative officer Dhaniram Sharma said the general public can give their suggestions from today until five days. They can submit their views and suggestions related to the reconstruction of the Ranipokhari.
They can do so by personally visiting the secretariat of the experts’ group at the City Hall or by e-mail and phone. The reconstruction of the historic monument came into controversy for use of concrete in the reconstruction.
An 11-member group of experts has been constituted under the convenorship of former Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Bishnu Raj Karki, to resolve the dispute. The Rani Pokhari and the temple in the middle of the pond were damaged by the April 25, 2015 earthquake. RSS
]]>KATHMANDU, Dec 28: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has decided to stop the reconstruction work at Rani Pokhari and build it e as per the architectural style and form prevalent during the time of king Pratap Malla in the medieval period.
The reconstruction project of the Malla-ear monument came under controversy after the KMC decided to use concrete to re-build it, which culture activists and locals criticized accusing the local government of trying to destroy the traditional value of the structure.
The locals and activists, to protest the KMC’s move, had padlocked the main entrance door of the reconstruction site on Tuesday in the presence of Deputy Mayor Hariprabha Khadgi. Later, a team led by Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya had removed the lock—fueling fire on the already mooted reconstruction project of the ancient monument which was damaged by the 2015 April earthquake.
A meeting held between Mayor Shakya, Deputy Mayor Khadgi, National Reconstruction Authority secretary Madhu Sudan Adhikari and Director General of Department of Archaeology Bhesh Narayan Dahal decided to withdraw the ongoing reconstruction work.
The meeting has also formed an 11-member committee led by former Director General of the Department of Archaeology Bishnu Raj Karki to study the site and recommend a work plan within 15 days.
The President had inaugurated the reconstruction of earthquake-devastated Ranipokhari on January 2016.
]]>KATHMANDU, Dec 26: Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Hariprabha Khadki on Tuesday said that the reconstruction of ancient heritage site is being carried out disregarding the norms set by the departments of archaeology in conservation of ancient monuments.
Deputy Mayor Khadgi had reached the Rani Pokhari reconstruction site to study the damaged monument on Tuesday. The locals and heritage conservationists protesting the metropolis’ decision to use concrete to build walls around it had padlocked the reconstruction site in Khadgi’s presence.
“The reconstruction works are being carried out without obtaining necessary permits. The department is yet to approve the permit,” said Khadgi after visiting the reconstruction site.
But, Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya has claimed that the reconstruction works has been forwarded as per the design approved by the Department of Archaeology.
The campaigners also restricted the metropolis’ employees, who were carrying out the construction work, from entering the heritage site after they were found using concrete to build wall on the southern side of the pond.
Ancient Monument Preservation Act states that any historic buildings and heritage sites that are over a hundred years old have to be preserved in their original form.
Khagdi accused mayor Shakya of not consulting with her about the reconstruction of the site and added that she would step forward to return the originality and beauty of Rani Pokhari.
The government had ordered the Kathmandu Metropolitan City to handover the reconstruction of the historic pond to Department of Archaeology after it drew widespread criticism from conservation experts and UNESCO for using concrete pillars in the construction of the temple.
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