KATHMANDU, Oct 21: The Sorhakhutte Paati, an ancient 16-wooden pillared rest house, situated near the crossroads of Sorhakhutte was demolished about two years ago as part of the road widening program. Though it was supposed to be relocated, it hasn't been so far.
The area has been named after the paati. And after the demolition of the structure that carried historical and archeological importance, locals now feel that their area has lost its original identity.
Govt neglects relocation of risky settlements
As part of the efforts to get back the center piece of the locality's identity, locals have been demanding its relocation. “Locals had proposed to relocate it in the middle of the Sorhakhutte chowk as it would be visible from every corner,” said Dharma Dev Magar, secretary of the Sorhakhutte Paati Preservation Committee. “But surveyors from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MPIT) didn't approve it stating that it would hinder road expansion program.”
After consultation with concerned authorities, the committee recently decided to relocate the paati within the compound of Elderly Home in Sorhakhutte. But its construction remains in limbo as the Department of Archeology (DoA) is yet to come up with a construction plan.
“We have requested the DoA for providing construction plan for the paati at the new location,” said Magar. The department has been entrusted with the responsibility of providing the construction plans and MPIT will be providing funds for its construction.
Magar informed that the committee would start constructing the paati as soon as the DoA provides the construction plan, hinting that would be around six months from now.
DoA spokesperson Ram Bahadur Kunwar said that they are working on the paati's construction design. While stating that it is the only project that the department is presently involved in, he did not provide a time frame for completing the project.
