An agreement has been reached on Friday to reconstruct the ancient old architectural wonder—Kasthamandap Temple that was damaged by the catastrophic earthquake of April 25, 2015.

The agreement was reached between four parties—National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Department of Archaeology, Kathmandu Metropolis and Campaign for Kasthamandap Reconstruction—at the NRA office in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu on Friday.

Joint Secretary Yamlal Bhusal, Director General at Department of Archaeology Bhesh Narayan Dahal, Executive Officer at Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ishwor Raj Poudel and Kasthamandap Reconstruction Campaign Chairman Birendra Bhakta Shrestha signed the agreement.

At the signing ceremony, Minister for Industry Nabindra Raj Joshi, who represents the constituency of Kasthamandap, said the Cabinet has already made a decision to authorise Timber Corporation to supply high-quality timber for the reconstruction of Kasthamandap. 

NRA Chief Executive Officer Govinda Raj Pokharel said the reconstruction effort being undertaken is based on the concept of public-private-partnership model. According to Pokharel, Kasthamandap carries the originality of Nepali architecture, history and culture of a community and stressed on the need to make its reconstruction a model project.

Pokharel remarked that the reconstruction of this UNESCO world heritage site will be completed in two years.

The meeting decided that the major responsibility for Kasthamandap will be vested on Campaign for Kasthamandap Reconstruction. 

27 engineers deployed to remove technical hurdles in 14 districts

National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has deployed 27 additional engineers to 14 most affected districts to remove technical hurdles in the reconstruction of private homes and backstop engineers already deployed in the area.

Addressing the engineers before their deployment, CEO Govind Raj Pokharel called on them to find innovative solutions in resolving technical issues that have delayed progress in reconstruction of houses and subsequent disbursement of second and third tranches of the housing grants.

“Within the parameters of the legal provision, I call you to provide innovate solutions,” said Pokharel.

This group of engineers, hired by the UNDP for the NRA, will be applying their expertise in implementing the recently approved Corrections/ Exceptions Manual, which simplifies the technical procedures without compromising on quality of construction.

Many of the strict provisions in previous guidelines had created compliance issue thus delaying the certification by engineers and subsequently preventing disbursement of second and third installment. The corrections manual for the masonry structure offers a flexible approach while adhering to the build back better principle.

Newly appointed NRA Secretary Sarabajit Prasad Mahato also urged the engineers to be flexible.

NRA Executive Member Dhurba Prasad Sharma instructed the engineers to carefully study all the working procedures and guidelines issued by the NRA. “If you do not become well versed in the provisions, you cannot help communities to resolve their problems,” he said.