The historic Dhararaha that was destroyed by the April 25 earthquake will be rebuilt from “citizens’ fund” to be established under the campaign “I will construct Dharahara”, the prime minister announced on Tuesday.

Inaugurating the reconstruction campaign which will begin from Wednesday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Tuesday that he would contribute his one month’s salary— Rs 61, 820—for the same.

“The Dhararaha is the symbol of our unity and strength; it is an identity of all Nepalis. It needs to be reconstructed through funds collected from each individual,” said PM Oli, requesting all the Nepalis living at home and abroad to donate for the cause.

PM Oli also informed that once the iconic tower is rebuilt, a copper plaque with names of victims of Dharahara collapse would be installed. At last 180 bodies were plucked from the Dharahara debris. According to the Department of Archaeology, a total of 754 historical, cultural and religious monuments, including the Dharahara, were damaged in 20 districts in the April quake. Among them, 133 monuments were reduced to rubble while 621 had sustained varied degrees of damage.

Speaking at Tuesday’s programme, Sushil Gyewali, chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, said the plan to rebuild the Dharahara is part of the reconstruction campaign that was launched on January 16. Gyewali said the new Dharahara will be an earthquake-resistant structure. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, Deputy PM and Physical Infrastructure Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Deputy PM and Defence Minister Bhim Rawal, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other government officials were present at the programme.