By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 14: Reconstruction of the historically and archeologically important nine-storey palace at Basantapur, which had reached the final stage before the enforcement of lockdown, has not moved ahead in lack of manpower.
The archaeological structure destroyed in the 2015 earthquake was being built with the Chinese assistance of Rs. 150 million.
Basantapur Durbar is a nine-storey 18th century palace first built during the Malla period and later a few floors were added to it by Prithvi Narayan Shah, the unifier of modern Nepal.
The tower now stands in its original shape and look. The further work has been completely halted after the lockdown and the working process was affected due to the shortage of manpower even after the government lifted the lockdown, said Aruna Nakarmi, executive director of Hanumnandhoka Durbar Museum Development.
Almost 90 per cent reconstruction process of the palace has been completed. Of the nine floors of the palace, reconstruction up to the eighth floor has already completed, only works on the roof of the ninth-story have remained incomplete, she said.
“The rooftop working process on the palace has reached the final stage, but no further progress has been made after March 24, when the lockdown was imposed,” she said.
The reconstruction process was to complete in the last fiscal year but the worldwide coronavirus epidemic obstructed the reconstruction process.
“The core work on the palace was completed by using the traditional methods and materials, works only to give finishing touch are left,” she said.
Traditional materials like mud, cow dung and husk are used to plaster the inner wall section.