Kathmandu, February 4

The government has decided to give all the responsibility of rebuilding Rani Pokhari and the temple that lies at the centre of the pond to the National Reconstruction Authority.

The historic temple that lies at the centre of the pond was damaged in the 2015 earthquakes. Later, Kathmandu Metropolitan City had desiccated the pond to rebuild it using modern technology.

The Cabinet meeting held on January 28 had decided to hand over the reconstruction responsibility to NRA. Earlier, Kathmandu Metropolitan City was given authority to rebuild the pond.

Similarly, the Department of Archaeology was provided authority to build the Balgopaleswor temple at the centre of the pond.

The reconstruction model of both the pond and the temple was finally approved a few months ago following several meetings with locals, conservationists and representatives of government bodies.

The pond will be rebuilt using traditional brick wall technique. Similarly, the temple will be rebuilt in Granthakut/Shikhara design.

Many historians and conservationist say the temple was rebuilt in Gumbaz design during the Rana regime after the original temple collapsed in the 1934 earthquake.