In a letter recently sent to the Department of Archeology (DoA), the UNESCO has asked that the government to completely block the 400 meters-track, which it says stops the Pashupatinath temple from meeting standards to qualify as a World Heritage Site. The UNESCO has categorically asked the government to block the road track completely by June, 2014.
According to the UNESCO standards, the construction of roads and buildings and entry of vehicles is strictly prohibited in any World Heritage Site.
But, the government did not meet the UNESCO standards by failing to preserve the Pashupatinath Temple without distorting its original structure. As a result, the UNESCO had to issue yet another warning in just three years´ time.
In its warning letter, the UNESCO has also asked that the government to build the compound wall around the temple complex and initiate efforts to renovate the old structures at the earliest.
"We tried a lot to stop the construction of the road track in Sheleshmantak forest but the local people stood against us," says Keshav Sthapit, Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Authority (KVTDA). "This road is not necessary as there are many other routes that the local people can use."
According to Bhesh Narayan Dahal, the DoA Director General, the UNESCO is sending its representatives to Nepal in three months to see if the government has really initiated works such as planting trees on the unwarranted road track and renovating old structures of the temple.
"While opening the road track, many trees were cut down and the original structure of the area was distorted," says Sushil Nahata, former member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). "After the repeated warnings from the UNESCO, the DoA had asked the Department of Roads (DoR) to stop the construction of the road completely."
As per its previous plan, the DoR wanted to build a blacktopped road through the Shleshmantak forest. Following the UNESCO´s objection, the DoR shunned its plan and did not blacktop the track. Now, the UNESCO wants the government to restore the track to its natural state.
Even though the DoR did not blacktop the road, people and vehicles still use this track, which passes through the Shleshmantak forest. They find it as one of the shortest routes to reach Mulpani and Gothatar from Tilganga area.
The government had decided to open the Tilganga-Guheshwori road track when the UCPN (Maoist) leader Hisila Yami was the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport in 2007. With the support of the local people, the DoR successfully opened the track. But, when the UNESCO issued the second warning letter, the government stopped the construction work a year ago.
"We immediately stopped the construction work after we got order from the government," says Gopal Khadka, Chief of the Kathmandu Road Division at the DoR. "But the local people are not happy with our decision and want us to blacktop the road."
Pashupatinath was listed in the UNESCO´s World Heritage Site in October, 1979. Along with Pashupatinath, six other sites of Kathmandu, including Hanuman Dhoka durbar square, Patan durbar square, Bhaktapur durbar square, Swayambhu, Bouddhanath and Changu Narayan were were also put on the coveted list.
UNESCO will not tolerate our excuses next time
Bhesh Narayan Dahal
Director General
The Department of Archaeology (DoA).
Despite the UNESCO´s warning, why has the government yet not started works to improve physical condition of the Pashupatinath Temple complex and plant trees on the unwarranted road track?
It is not that the government has not done anything. Actually, the government has stopped building the road. Last year, the government ordered the Department of Roads to call off a tender notice published for blacktopping the road. However, the local people were not satisfied. They still asked the DoR to continue with its work to increase the value of their land. So, in order to solve the problem, the government also needs support from the locals. But, the local people and organizations are not ready to cooperate with the government. Similarly, for other works like plantation and building boundaries, we will organize our meeting soon with various stakeholders, including the Department of Road (DoR) the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), among others.
When will the DoA start planting trees on the road track and building the compound wall around the temple complex?
We will start our work after holding meetings with the officials of the PADT. As the PADT remained without its leadership for some time, we could not hold meetings on time. Now, we hope to organize it very soon.
Are you sure the government will not get yet another warning for the Pashupatinath temple when the UNESCO organizes its next meeting in Qatar in 2014?
I still doubt it. If we are not able to follow their guidelines and stop constructing the road, we may get yet another warning. And, in 2014, the UNESCO will no longer tolerate any of our excuses as they have already excused us several times. Then, the Pashupatinath will be listed in the list of World Heritage Sites under risk.
What will happen if any site is listed in that list?
Danger list is for such sites which violate any of the rules set by the UNESCO. All those heritage sites which have been enlisted in UNESCO´s World Heritage Site should follow some rules which are set by the UNESCO. For example, no one has right to distort the cultural and historical value of the site. Similarly, the caretaker of such sites must maintain greenery and protect them from any kind of destructive work inside those heritage sites. If we fail to follow these rules, then the UNESCO will put our heritage sites in the danger list. In such a situation, the country will face embarrassment in the international community.
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