KATHMANDU: The reconstruction of the monuments damaged during the massive earthquake of April 25 last year at the Basantapur Durbar Square has officially kicked off today.

Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel launched the reconstruction phase starting from Bangshagopal Temple amidst a programme held here.

Paudel said the government failed to accelerate the pace to the reconstruction of the cultural monuments, heritages and houses destroyed or damaged during the earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks.

Speaking to journalists, lawmaker Nabindra Raj Joshi at the same programme said the monuments should be rebuilt without tampering with its originality.