Kathmandu, March 30

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has directed all government secretaries to cause all employees under their purview to voluntarily donate to the Dharahara Reconstruction Fund.

A meeting of the government secretaries held on Monday had decided to collect donations from gazetted special class officials the amount equivalent to their salary of three days while requesting the employees of the Government of Nepal, constitutional bodies, corporations and banks and financial institutions to donate money as per their will and capacity.

It has also appealed to the general public and employees of other organisations to contribute to the fund under the ‘I Will Build My Dharahara Myself’ campaign announced by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on February 16.

“Interested individuals can deposit their donations in account number 143000198001 at Thapathali Branch of Nepal Rastra Bank,” informed the OPMCM.

According to the campaign, the government will collect donations from its employees and Nepali citizens to rebuild Dharahara, also known as Bhimsen Tower, which came crashing down on April 25, 2015 after a devastating earthquake.

The iconic monument will be reconstructed in tribute to those who lost their lives in the quakes of April and May. The names of all those who died during the quakes will be inscribed on it, said an OPMCM official.

The National Reconstruction Authority said the new Dharahara will have a façade similar to the old structure. However, it will be built using modern construction materials, will have underground three-storey parking facility and will be over 203-feet high.

The Department of Archaeology will be the implementing agency in reconstruction of heritage sites.

The 225-feet Bhimsen Tower was built in 1825 by the first prime minister of Nepal Bhimsen Thapa. It was partially damaged by the massive earthquake of 1934.