By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 10: Reconstruction work of Kasthamandap, which carries the name and history of Kathmandu, has been going on smoothly in recent days.
Currently, the work is going on its second floor. The Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC) has stated that Rs. 69 million has been spent, along with 6,102 cubic feet timber so far in the reconstruction of the historical monument which was ravaged in the 2015 earthquake.
The reconstruction committee has estimated that 13,000 cubic feet timber is required to build the three- storey public shelter, out of which 1,000 cubic feet wood was brought from the Mahakali Irrigation Project of Sudurpashchim State. Previously, the wooden raw materials were brought from Sindhuli and Parsa, said Gautam Dangol, secretary of the KRC.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City had provided over Rs. 100 million for the reconstruction of the wooden shelter of high archaeological value last fiscal year. The KMC and the Department of Archaeology (DoA) have estimated its reconstruction cost at Rs. 198.8 million.
“The committee has estimated that reconstruction work will be completed with fewer amounts than estimated, which is anywhere between Rs. 130 million to Rs. 150 million,” Dangol said.
About 70 percent work on the three-storey historically significant public shelter of Basantapur has completed to date. Currently, the work is being done on the second floor. The erection of four central pillars and beams of that floor have been competed so far. Almost all the works on ground floor has also been done; however, due to the lack of suitable wood, minor wooden works is yet to be completed.
“The second floor, which needs wooden posts of different sizes, is divided into three layers,” informed Dangol, adding that they had been facing shortage of logs, which is attributable to the nation-wide lockdown imposed by the government.
At present, around 20 labourers are working at the reconstruction site and the old Hanumandhoka Police Circle to rebuild the 7th century monument, he further said.