Kathmandu,
Mar. 4: The reconstruction of the historic Ranipokhari started on Monday. The
National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has initiated the rebuilding of the 350
years old pond, built by Pratap Malla in 1670, with a consumer committee.
NRA
Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyawali said that the pond would be
reconstructed in traditional Malla-era style with traditional technology and
construction materials.
Likewise,
President of Ranipokhari Reconstruction Consumer Committee Ajaya Sthapit said
that the rebuilding would be performed according to the NRA-set standards.
"About
40 workers have been mobilised for pond reconstruction, and the number of
masons will be increased as per the need," he said.
Similarly,
Chairman of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Ward No. 1 Bharat Lal Shrestha
expressed his commitment that the ward office would extend every help required
for the rebuilding of the historic pond that also houses the famous
Balgopaleshwor Temple.
Following
multiple disputes about the design of the temple and construction materials
used in the side walls, a Cabinet meeting on 28 January had assigned the
reconstruction body to rebuild the pond and the temple.
The
temple was initially assigned to the KMC but locals and archaeologists
protested it after the city office used concrete and other modern construction
materials. Then the responsibility of temple rebuilding was given to the
Department of Archaeology (DoA) and it started to build it in the dome style as
it was before 2015 earthquake. But, locals and archaeologists demanded to
rebuild it in the original Shikhara style as built by Pratap Malla.
Finally,
the temple is being built in Shikhara style.
The
NRA has formed a Monitoring and Coordination Committee in the chairmanship of
Dr. Chandra Bahadur Shrestha, Executive Member of the reconstruction body, to
monitor the reconstruction of Ranipokhari, Balgopaleshwor and other heritages
around the pond.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 March 2019. 
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