Valley
Fresh bid to rebuild Yamaleshwor temple
Reconstruction of earthquake-hit Yamaleshwor Temple will begin within a month, the Department of Archaeology (DoA) has said. Issuing a public notice on Friday, the department has invited tenders from the interested contractors for the rebuilding of the historic temple inside Rani Pokhari.Reconstruction of earthquake-hit Yamaleshwor Temple will begin within a month, the Department of Archaeology (DoA) has said. Issuing a public notice on Friday, the department has invited tenders from the interested contractors for the rebuilding of the historic temple inside Rani Pokhari.
The temple, which opens only on the day of Bhai Tika during Tihar, was severely damaged by Gorkha Earthquake in April 2015. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had taken the initiative to rebuild the temple, pond and surrounding areas. However, the KMC later handed the responsibility to the DoA in October last year following a controversy over the negligence on part of the contractor that used construction materials in violations of archaeological and cultural norms.
Reconstruction works at Rani Pokhari and the temple at the centre of the pond—historic structures of religious importance dating back to 1670 AD—had been halted following reports that authorities were using concrete materials and had failed to comply with archaeological norms.
However, the reconstruction works failed to move ahead despite the DoA taking the responsibility. “We expect to complete the bidding process within 20 days, following which the reconstruction works will begin,” said Director General at DoA Bhesh Narayan Dahal, adding that they are planning to complete the rebuilding works by 2018. The temple will be rebuilt using traditional materials by applying the load bearing system wall (a wall that bears the weight of the building, resting upon it by conducting its weight to a foundation structure), Dahal confirmed. “To make the temple stronger, some new materials will be used based on experts suggestion,” he explained,”But its old architecture style will be retained.”
While the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has allocated Rs10 million for the reconstruction, Dahal said an additional Rs5 million would be required for the purpose.
The government had formally launched the post-quake reconstruction campaign on January 16, 2016 from Rani Pokhari, with President Bidya Devi Bhandari laying the foundation stone of the temple.