CHAUTARA: The construction work of Earthquake Memorial Garden has started in Sindhupalchok district with an objective to develop it as a Seismological Study and Research Centre.

Sindhupalchok is one of the hardest hit districts, with around 40 per cent of quake related casualty and 95 per cent damages to physical infrastructures.

The Garden would have 14 pillars standing for the 14 hardest hit districts in the country in the Gorkha Earthquake.

The Garden and the Centre to be built at Dahre Gauda Danda, some three kilometres north west to district headquarters Chautara, was expected to cost around Rs 1 billion, said District Coordination Committee Chief Dr Yubaraj Poudel.

The design prepared by A Knot Architect Design Association for the garden was unveiled by Urban Development and Building Division Office, Sindhupalchowk on Tuesday.

“The Garden will be built across more than 82 ropani of land where a special room will be built that would give the effects of earthquake to those entering the room,” added Chief Dr Yubaraj Poudel.

There would be a library, a meeting hall, an information centre and two-storey pillar among others for sightseeing.