INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, APRIL 4After breaching the deadline multiple times amid huge disputes over the reconstruction modality,
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today inaugurated the much-hyped Kashthamandap temple, an iconic heritage building at Hanumandhoka Durbar
Square in Kathmandu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kashthamandap temple inaugurated
Wang Yi pays courtesy call to President Bhandari
The temple, which was originally built in the 8th century, was in a dilapidated state due to the 2015 earthquakes
and subsequent aftershocks.
Inaugurating the historic temple, President Bhandari said development projects should be
formulated in a manner that would not undermine and hamper cultural and natural resources
"We should be motivated to promote urban greenery, save water resources, and work to save natural and cultural diversity inside Kathmandu,"
Bhandari said.She expressed gratitude towards Kathmandu Metropolitan City, for taking initiative to build the temple at its own
expenses."Kathmandu valley is regarded as one of the unique places with amalgamation of natural and cultural heritage.So high priority
should be given to the preservation of such unique features while undertaking development projects," Bhandari added.The reconstruction of
Kashthamandap, the temple which is the source of the name 'Kathmandu', saw lots of obstacles and fracas among stakeholders after it was
destroyed by the earthquakes.Dispute over the reconstruction modality of Kashthamandap escalated after Kathmandu Metropolitan City handed
over the reconstruction to some construction company which used cement and iron rods to rebuild it without considering any heritage
principle of reconstruction.Following this, locals and activists staged protest
As a result, the KMC finally retracted from the reconstruction.Government bodies such as the Department of Archaeology then sought help from
the international community to build the temple.However, the local community was adamant that the temple should be built by themselves and
not other body.Finally in December 2017, the KMC took responsibility to build the temple on its own.Later, Kashthamandap Reconstruction
Steering Committee was formed under the coordination of provincial lawmaker from the area Rajesh Shakya.The committee comprised locals,
activists, Hindu priests, among others
However, it was often accused that Mayor of KMC Bidhya Sundar Shakya placed his supporters in the committee and sidelined people who were
critical of him.A version of this article appears in the print on April 5, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.