Kathmandu, March 12 The Office of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in collaboration with the locals today launched the reconstruction campaign of a Lichhavi-era stone water spout at Ga: Hiti in Thamel. Ga: Hiti means spout made below the ground level in Newari language. The renovation drive has been launched as the spout was damaged in earthquakes last year. KMC chief Rudra Singh Tamang inaugurated the reconstruction work amid a function organised on the remains of the stone water spout. A seven-member Ga Hiti Renovation Committee, led by tourism entrepreneur Bhabishwar Sharma, has been formed to restore the traditional heritage. Tamang informed that the reconstruction work was expected to be completed within three months and would cost approximately Rs 4.6 million. Around 80 per cent and 20 per cent of the total cost will be borne by the KMC and locals, respectively. Earlier, Kathmandu Valley boasted of 389 traditional stone spouts. However, these centuries-old stone spouts, which had survived more than three massive earthquakes, are currently facing existential crisis. Experts say haphazard urbanisation and population growth could soon lead such spouts to extinction. According to the Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, currently there are 233 natural water spouts in the Valley. Around 68 such traditional stone spouts have run dry and 45 of them do not exist at all, as per the NGO. Unreliable water supply from the government makes these traditional spouts a reliable source of water in the capital city. These spouts, carved with forms of Hindu and Buddhist deities, are still a source of cultural and religious inspiration in this ancient city, where many functions and pujas require holy water fetched from such sources. In the meantime, they are testimony to the Valley’s rich culture.