Kathmandu, Jan. 18: The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)has agreed to develop a master-plan for the
renovation and reconstruction of the historical Sindhuligadhi Fort in Sindhuli
district.
The NRNA and Kamalamai Municipality Thursday signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Kathmandu for the same. Mayor of
KamalamaiKhadga Khatri and NRNA President Bhatta signed the MoU on behalf of
their respective organisations.
As per the agreement, the NRNA will prepare the masterplan
within six-month and hand over to the municipality.
The master plan is being developed to restore the historical
importance of the Fort that was once used as the military base while fighting
with the British army in 1767.
According to the MoU, the masterplan must take into account
historical importance and originality, cost of preparation will be borne by the
NRNA, and the municipality will own the masterplan and make it a base document
in the future renovations and reconstruction.
Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of Gorkha had annexed surrounding
states of the Kathmandu Valley in 1765, and was set to declare war with
Kantipur, Patan and Bhaktapur. At that time, up on the request of Jaya Prakash
Malla, a king in Kantipur, present day Kathmandu, British government in India
had sent an army troop in the leadership of Captain Kinloch in 1767.
Gorkha Army had defeated the Kinloch-led British Army and
confiscated about 500 guns and other ammunition. SardarBanshuGurung, Kaji Shree
Harsha Panta and Bansha Raj Pandey, and BirbhadraUpadhyaya had led Nepali army
and local people in the war.
Therefore, the fort has a great historical importance.
To celebrate the victory, every year a victory fest is
celebrated in Sindhuli, and Prosper Sindhuli Campaign is organizing bicycle
rally every year from Kathmandu to Sindhuligadhi and Sindhulimadi, district
headquarters.
The campaign has been also supporting the villagers around
the fort with training and other materials in establishing and running homestay
to serve the tourists visiting the place, said Lila NathGhimire, Coordinator of
the campaign.
Mayor Khatri said that the involvement of the NRNA has
instilled hope in the people of Sindhuli that the ill-fated fort, which was
long been neglected, would be reconstructed.
"Reconstruction of the fort will boost tourism in the
district and help in generating employment and marketing the agricultural and
other products of the district," he said.
The Mayor, former minister HaribolGajurel and other leaders
urged the NRNA also to support in the renovation works.
In response, Bhatta assured that he would try to raise funds
for the reconstruction of the historical place.
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