Quake-ravaged heritage filled with water after five years

KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond) – a Malla-era heritage in Kathmandu – has been filled with water after five years since it was heavily damaged by the massive earthquake that hit the country in April, 2015.

A total of 20 million liters of water was poured into the pond on Saturday as the reconstruction works in this historic pond reached the final stage. “Pure water from Sundarijal was filled in the pond as in the past,” said Sushil Gyawali, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).

Citing historical reference, Gyawali said that water used to be supplied to the pond through the royal canal (Raj Kulo) from Shivapuri. “Since no such canal exists today, we are supplying water from Sundarijal waters through the pipeline of Melamchi drinking water project,” he said.

CEO Gyawali said the Rani Pokhari is being reconstructed on a war footing. Although the target was to complete the reconstruction works by early May, the goal could not be achieved as the construction work was affected due to shortage of manpower as the mobility of people was restricted to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

The construction works suffered due to shortage of manpower as the mobility of people was restricted to curb the spread of the COVID-19. The heritage is being reconstructed in its original structure in order to preserve its historical and cultural significance, according to Gyawali.

 
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• Nepal