Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya presented a cheque of Rs 50 million to Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC) Chairperson Rajesh Kaji Shakya at an event held in Kathmandu on Saturday.

This is KMC second contribution towards the reconstruction of the historic Kasthamandap that collapsed when the earthquake struck on April 25, 2015.

Earlier on June 12, the metropolis had presented Rs 5 million as seed money to start the reconstruction of the wooden temple, the centre of attraction in Basantapur Durbar Square. Speaking at the event KMC Mayor Shakya said, “We have already received timber and the ground

level work has already started. The first floor of the Kasthamandap will be complete by this fiscal year.”

The metropolis estimates an expenditure of Rs 180 million for the reconstruction of the temple.  

“The metropolis will reconstruct this historic temple from its own resources. We will not take any foreign grant,” said Shakya.

At present, Chinese aid spurs the reconstruction of the nine-story Basantapur Tower at Kathmandu Durbar Square.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu funded the reconstruction of the earthquake-ravaged Gaddi Baithak in Basantapur Durbar Square that was completed on June 27.

Earlier attempts to rebuild Kasthamandap had failed because of many issues. Tender bids for the reconstruction project failed to get approval twice in the past three years. In 2016, the National Reconstruction Authority, the Department of Archaeology (DoA) and the KMC had signed a deal with the community-led Campaign to Rebuild Kasthamandap, the iconic monument built between the 12th and 18th century by Malla King in Hanumandhoka Durbar Square.

However, the project did not start because of the dispute between the KMC and local campaigners.

The KMC has now taken the lead to reconstruct the Kastamandap in collaboration with locals and representatives of ward 19, 20, 23 and 24 that touch the Durbar Square that is Unesco World Heritage Site. The ward members will monitor the expenses of the reconstruction work.

Speaking at the event, Ward-23 Chairperson Macharaja Maharjan said, the reconstruction work of Kasthamandap is progressing well.

“The quake damaged monuments are being constructed here with full swing in the coordination of four ward’s representatives, now people can see the tangible difference,” said Maharjan.  

Mayor Shakya said, after the structural analysis of Kumari Ghar (the place where living goddess is kept) in Basantapur, the metropolis will renovate it using its own funds.  

The metropolis will announce on December 4 the structural report on Kumari Ghar.