Preliminary reconstruction of 10 damaged buildings, including heritage monuments, in the district has begun with financial aid from the German government, nearly a year after the Gorkha Earthquake.

Reconstruction was inaugurated on Friday with support from German Development Bank, Nepal Government and Bhaktapur Municipality after a Hindu puja ritual at a holy site at Dattatreya. 

The Pujari Math at Dattatreya, National Arts Museum, Fasidega Mandir at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the old building of Bhaktapur Municipality, Bhairav Dyo Chhe, Chyasimandap at Bhailukhel, Panchatale Mandir, Hada Chhe at Nasamana and the buildings of Bidyarthi Niketan Higher Secondary School and Shreepadya Higher Secondary School are the 10 structures which will be reconstructed.

According to the Department of Archaeology, the German government has contributed Rs1.19 billion for the reconstruction project with the government contributing Rs220 million and Bhaktapur Municipality contributing Rs100 million. According to Shankar Raj Pandey, a representative of German Development Bank, investigations into the historical and archaeological significance of the heritage sites will also be carried out.

A team of experts will carry out a detailed study for the complete reconstruction of the damaged sites for a month and a half after which main reconstruction work will begin, Pandey said, adding that their plan is to complete reconstruction and renovation of all the sites by December 2016. According to DoA, a total of 754 historical, cultural and religious monuments in 20 districts were damaged by the Gorkha Earthquake and its aftershocks. 

Among them, 133 have been reduced to rubble while 621 sustained a varied degrees of damage. According to Post Disaster Needs Assessment report prepared by National Planning Commission, an estimated Rs20.56 billion will be required to rebuild the damaged monuments.

“Reconstruction of 115 heritage sites across the country will begin this year,” DoA Director General Bhesh Narayan Dahal said. “We have been allocated a total budget of Rs780 million for the purpose this fiscal year.”

According to Dahal, temples of Vajrayogini and Khadgayogini in Sankhu; Dashavatar and Bansagopal in Hanumandhoka; Taleju in Patan; Janga Hiranya in Tripureshwor; Bhimsen in Pharping; Anantapur at Swayambhu and Gujeshwori in the Pashupati area are among the sites that will be rebuilt this year. 

Out of Rs74 billion allocated for the National Reconstruction Fund by the government in this fiscal year’s budget, Rs2 billion will be spent on the reconstruction of archaeological structures.