Newly amended part of the draft policy dealing with conserving cultural heritage will be taken as the basis for developing conservation guidelines for post-earthquake reconstruction KATHMANDU: At present there is no policy for the rehabilitation for cultural heritage after the April 25 earthquake in Nepal. A draft was prepared by the National Planning Commission (NPC) for the not yet established National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) entitled “Post Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Policy” which deals with five sectors, with one part addressing cultural heritage. These draft policies were provided to the Department of Archaeology (DoA) to be reviewed and the opportunity was taken to have broad consultation on the contents of this document. A series of discussions were held at the Earthquake Response Coordination Office (ERCO) at DoA along with interactions by email. The DoA was supported by the team from UNESCO as well as members of ICOMOS Nepal. Keeping the same format as provided in the draft document, an entirely new text was formulated and proposed for the policy. The main objective of rehabilitation and restoration of monuments, heritage sites and historic settlements as well as cultural structures and objects is supported by three strategies, each with a series of actions. In line with the original draft document three objectives were formulated along with their strategies and action points. These will be explained and justified in short here, keeping in mind that parts have been translated from the original text which is in Nepali. The first strategy states that “monuments, historical buildings, cultural structures and objects will be restored as per the conservation guidelines of the Department of Archaeology”. This evidently requires for the preparation of conservation guidelines which are already in the process of being formulated. Implementation will be done under “direct supervision of the Department of Archaeology with necessary support from local government, community, Guthi Sansthan, including international organisations and experts”. High priority will be given to the heritage that is nearly collapsing or partially damaged. The second strategy states that “heritage sites including historic settlements will be rehabilitated and restored through the leadership of local government and with the participation of the community while maintaining their cultural continuity”. This would require restoration master plan to be prepared with the active involvement of the community and the local government. These plans would need to ensure that the “heritage sites including historic settlements shall retain their overall traditional layout and structure while maintaining their cultural continuity”. The continuity would not only lie in the reconstruction of the tangible, but also in safeguarding the intangible by ensuring that religious and cultural festivals resume. The third strategy states that “the Department of Archaeology will coordinate the involvement of local government and stakeholders in the rehabilitation and restoration of monuments, heritage sites, cultural structures and objects giving high priority to ensuring availability of essential materials and the training of required crafts-persons”. The DoA based on the Ancient Monument Preservation Act will take on the role of coordinating required resources such as funding, expertise and skill. “Master crafts-persons shall be given high recognition and high priority will be given to the training of new craftsperson. The supply of essential materials for the reconstruction and restoration work shall be ensured through simplified procedures, incentives and in doing so due consideration will be given to the sustainable development of resources”. The new constitution which was promulgated on September 20 will possibly keep the government busy establishing new governance systems. This should, however, not distract from the requirements of post-earthquake rehabilitation. In the meantime, the newly amended part of the draft policy dealing with conserving cultural heritage will be taken as the basis for developing conservation guidelines for post-earthquake reconstruction as well as for the preparation of rehabilitation master plan. As pressure mounts to begin reconstruction, guidelines and strategies must be put in place before the festive season that ends in mid-November. (The author is an architect and can be contacted through paharnepal@hotmail.com)