The pond which has religious and historical importance is in existence for the last 1500 years. The Ashok Monastery built 2300 years ago by Charumati, the daughter of emperor Ashok, is also located near the pond. [break]
The pond directly and indirectly recharges the underground sources of water in Lalitpur. During the Lichchhavi period, the pond used to be recharged through the water brought from Tika Bhairabh through the Rajkulo (royal canal) and arrangement has been made so that it would in turn recharge other underground sources of water in the area.
Water from the pond is mandatory in the chariot festival of Rato Machchhindranath. Likewise, the water is also needed during the Samyak Puja and to cook food for Samyak Feast.
Purna Sthapit, the chairman of Lagankhel Environment Improvement Organization that has been involved in conserving the pond, said the pond has been encroached by the Namuna Machchhindra Secondary School.
Of late, the school has started building a commercial building by encroaching the pond’s area. A writ petition was filed against the school in the Supreme Court. Three years on after the SC order, the implementation of the court order to restore the pond’s area and to correct the ownership of the public land is yet to be implemented.
In association with the locals, an NGO has prepared a master plan to renovate the pond. The master plan envisages including the Ashok Monastery located in the area and the Saptapatal pond within a single premises and building a common entrance for both. It also plans to recharge the pond through rain harvesting.
The renovation is estimated to cost at least Rs 12 million. Lalitpur sub-metropolitan City has pledged Rs 1.3 million.
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