Locals join hands to restore heritages

DOLAKHA, Sept 15: Locals of Dolakha bazar in the district have come together to reconstruct the heritage sites that were damaged by April 25 earthquake and its aftershocks. Various donors have been providing financial assistance for the renovation and reconstruction works.

Locals decided to take the matters in their own hand accusing the government of failing to appreciate the importance of the city's temples, courtyards, old palaces and other heritages."The government has totally overlooked the city's damaged heritage structures as very little has been done for reconstructing them even four months after they were damaged by the earthquake," said a local leader Bharat Narayan Pradhan. "Therefore, we decided join hands to carry out the reconstruction work."

According to locals, over a dozen important heritage structures of the city sustained damages during the catastrophic earthquake. Five of the temples, including the famous Tripura Sundari Temple, were destroyed, while over a dozen others sustained damages. Most of them are palaces and temples dating back to the Malla regime.

Locals have relocated statue of the quake damaged Korche Narayan Temple in nearby hymns house. Similarly, the statue of Goddess Taleju from the famous Taleju Temple has been taken to the house of the temple's main priest for safekeeping.

All the relocation works were done in the presence of government officials.

"There is a sense of unity among locals. They are working together to restore and preserve the damaged heritage buildings," said Shanta Krishna Shrestha, chairman of committee for Dolakha Bhimeshwar Area Masterplan.

According to him, some Malla-era palaces are yet to be preserved. "The quake has caused much damage to important heritages and ancient residential houses that hold historical significance," he added.

The local leader Pradhan said the conditions of damaged heritage structures are deteriorating further everyday due to rains. He stressed the need for immediate conservation or risk losing them altogether.

Sanjay Bahadur Rajlawat, officer of Bhimeshwor Municipality, said, "We have already written to the ministry requesting support for long-term restoration of the heritages," said Rajlawat. "Various organizations under the District Disaster Relief Committee are currently working for the restoration of the heritages under the initiation of the municipality."

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