KATHMANDU: The Department of Archaeology (DoA) has stated that the reconstruction of the quake-damaged archaeological structures would be completed within seven years.

According to the government record, the April 25 great earthquake caused damage to 581archeological infrastructures. Of them, 137 infrastructures have been completely damaged whereas 4,444 sustained partial damages.

The DoA has stated that if the government would release the sufficient fund as per its multi-years plan, the reconstruction of these monuments would be completed within the timeline.

The Director General at the DoA, Bhesh Narayan Dahal in the meeting of Development Committee under the Legislature-Parliament has shared that the April 25 earthquake has caused damages to the historical physical infrastructures significance worth Rs 110 billion.

Dahal further said that Rs 170.5 million, which is due in the current fiscal year, would be spent over the renovation and reconstruction of the quake-damaged archaeological infrastructures.

"For the reconstruction, the DoA will first lay its focus on the designing and gauging the estimated cost for building such infrastructures," shared Dahal, adding that this task pick the pace after the private sector and stakeholders contributed to it.

Business sectors to contribute to this cause

At the request of the DoA, various financial institutes and business houses have started joining this social cause by providing tents and zinc sheets for the protection of the quake-ravaged historical sites and infrastructures during the monsoon.

Panchakanya Group, a business house in Nepal, has announced to support in the reconstruction of the Dharahara, tallest pillar in the capital city in its earlier form.

Under the Corporate Social Responsibility of the business houses and private sectors, they have provided tents and zinc corrugated sheets to various archeological sites in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts.

Oil-bricks being arranged

Since the buildings of archeological importance were made up of oil-bricks, it is vital to arrange oil-bricks for the reconstruction of such buildings. The kilns in Bhaktapur and Lalitpur currently have some 250,000 such bricks in stock.

The kilns here have committed to the DoA to make more such bricks for the same. The DoA, in addition, has also requested the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservations to avail them the logs of (sakhuwa) trees that are in fallen state.

The Forest Ministry has promised to provide the Department some 250,000 cubic feet wood for the immediate use. It is estimated that the woods worth Rs 10 billion 820 million is required for the reconstruction of the quake-damaged archaeological infrastructures.

No dearth of human resources

The DoA has clarified that there will not be dearth of human resources to rebuild the buildings of historical and archaeological importance as many artisans, with flair for woodwork, were already in touch with the DoA. There are the locals of Bungmati, Patan and Bhaisepati of Lalitpur area.

Moreover, a team of former Secretary Kishore Thapa was also willing to collaborate with the Department, the Director General of the DoA shared. Also, some national and international cultural experts were willing to cooperate the DoA for the same. The Kathmandu Municipality, the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were also equally interested to support in the reconstruction.

Rabindra Adhikari, Chairperson of the Legislature-Parliament Development Committee reaffirms that there will not be any financial crunch for the reconstruction of the quake-damaged archaeological infrastructures.

"The Committee will make necessary efforts to garner support from the government, private sector for the same," he said.