Kathmandu, March 4

Local activists today filed a complaint against officials of the Department of Archaeology, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Worldwide Kandel JV, the contractor for the reconstruction of Rani Pokhari, at Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, stating that they did not comply with existing laws and aggravated the condition of the historic pond.

The FIR is signed by 24 locals and names Senior Divisional Engineer at DoA Sampad Ghimere, Chief of Department of Physical Development and Construction of KMC Uttar Kumar Regmi, and Krishna Kandel of Worldwide Kandel JV.

According to the Schedule 1 of the Government Cases Act 1992, any damage caused to heritage site or ancient monument amounts to criminal offence. The accused if proven guilty will have to compensate for the damage caused, serve five to 15 years in jail or pay a fine of Rs 25,000 to Rs 100,000, or all the aforementioned.

According to the FIR filed at MPR, the authorities were not complying with the Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1956,  but instead degrading the ancient monument’s historical and cultural values. They are accused of reducing the size of the pond, building concrete walls and and using dozers and other modern equipment to excavate the pond.

Police registered the FIR only after they were unable to convince the locals to withdraw the complaint.

Local activist Alok Siddhi Tuladhar said, “We have filed the complaint in the hope that the ancient pond will be restored to its original form.” Reconstruction of the historic pond and Balgopaleshwor temple in the centre has been interrupted time and again due to various reasons.

Dispute over the reconstruction model of the pond had even resulted in the tussle between KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya and Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi. The mayor had then formed an 11-member expert committee on December 28, 2017 to work on the reconstruction model of the temple. The panel recommended that Rani Pokhari be restored to Malla-era design.

The DoA  on February 5 had issued a letter asking the constructors to restore Balgopaleshwor temple to Rana-era model, which according to the officials respected conservation norms.

According to the KMC officials Rs. 12.4 million has been already provided to the contractor as a part of the deal to start work on reconstruction of the historic pond.