The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has met with widespread criticism for demolishing one of the four Shivalayas on the premises of the Pashupatinath temple.
The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has met with widespread criticism for demolishing one of the four Shivalayas on the premises of the Pashupatinath temple.
The PADT demolished the Shivalaya on Saturday as part of its plan to expand the Kriya Putri facility, a holy place where mourners stay after cremating their dead.
Following criticism, the PADT has said it will rebuild the demolished temple.
“We have instructed the concerned agency to rebuild the temple. If it does not do so, the PADT itself will rebuild the temple,” a press release issued by the PADT said.
The area where the structure was demolished falls within Unesco World Heritage sites.
Local representatives were neither consulted nor informed before demolishing the temple, said Ward Chairman Dinesh Dangal. “How reasonable is it on the part of the PADT to say it will reconstruct the temple,” he said.
According to locals, the centuries-old structure was demolished in the night.
On Sunday, representatives of the Department of Archaeology (DoA) visited the site. DoA Spokesperson Ram Kunwar said the department has already written to the PADT asking it explain its act of demolishing the temple.
Anup Ojha is a reporter for The Kathmandu Post primarily covering social issues, crime, and human interest stories since 2011. Before moving to the social beat, Ojha covered arts and culture for the Post for four years.
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