KATHMANDU, Jan 14: Reconstruction of the priest’s quarters and a monastery which were damaged by the April 2015 Gorkha Earthquake has started at the Swoyambhunath complex enlisted in the UNESCO world heritage site list. 

Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa laid the foundation stone of the two structures today. Speaking on the occasion, he said the reconstruction would be prioritized and any delay would not be allowed. 

Eighteen buildings and Viharas (monasteries) within the Swoyambhunath complex damaged by the earthquake would be reconstructed within a year at a total cost of Rs 180 million, the Swoyambhu Reconstruction Users Committee president Ishwor Buddhacharya said. 

Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya said the metropolis was committed to rebuilding the damaged heritages. He said the reconstruction has not gained pace despite allocation of adequate budget for the same as various bodies created obstructions. 

Member of Parliament from Kathmandu constituency-7 Rambir Manandhar said the post-quake reconstruction had been delayed due to the political instability in the past but it would now gain pace with the formation of a government enjoying a two-thirds majority. 

KMC ward no 15 chairpersonIshwar Man Dangol said the reconstruction of the heritage would be done preserving the original architecture. 

The reconstruction in Swoyambhunath area is being carried out under the coordination of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). RSS

 
• earthquake
 
• reconstruction