Durbar School: traditional look, modern facilities

Kathmandu, Jan. 10: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Wednesday directed the stakeholders to rebuild Durbar High School as per its existing outer look with modern facilities inside.

A joint meeting of the reconstruction body and stakeholders had decided to rebuild the historic building of the country’s first school in a traditional style as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with China.

The government has already signed a MoU with the northern neigbour to rebuild the school building along with the Basantapur Palace at Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Nuwakot Durbar Square.

Officiating Secretary at the NRA Yam Lal Bhoosal said that the building would be reconstructed using quake-resistant technology and will have disabled-friendly facilities including ramps, class rooms, toilets and laboratory.

It will have safety measures needed during disasters.

“The school has huge infrastructure, therefore, it is very difficult to collect and manage traditional construction materials, and the building will not be appropriate for modern class rooms. So the stakeholders have decided to build the building the traditional way using modern technology,” said Bhoosal.

To implement the reconstruction plan of Durbar High School, Central Level Programme Implementation Units (CLPIU) at the Ministry of Education, and Urban Development, Department of Archaeology (DoA) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office will complete the necessary processes, and the CLPIU of the Ministry of Education will coordinate with the Chinese side to rebuild the school building.

Meanwhile, another meeting of the reconstruction body had decided to provide wood of 12-20 feet size as recommended by the DoA for heritage reconstruction.

The wood will be provided by the Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation and the Timber Corporation of Nepal.

The meeting also decided to facilitate the quake-affected families in obtaining the required wood needed in house reconstruction.