Janaboli
Kathmandu, July 27:The magnificent golden spout Sundhara used to be an unparalleled work of water engineering in the Kathmandu Valley. But it dried up in 2005, in course of the construction of the present-day Kathmandu Mall building.
For 10 long years, the Hiti lay neglected. But a ray of hope appeared after the 2015 earthquake when the then National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) announced it would renovate the historic fountain and restore water flow as part of its larger project to build the new Dharahara next to the remains of the old one.
The new Dharahara is almost complete, with authorities claiming that work is in its final stages. But the two related projects of restoring Sundhara and preserving the remains of the base of the old Dharahara tower have not seen any progress.
The NRA’s over-five-year term ended on December 24, 2021. But before that, its officials had told The Rising Nepal that work on these two structures would begin after other works of the Dharahara-reconstruction project were finished.
The Central Level Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU) under the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Urban Development, took over NRA’s work on the Dharahara project after the latter’s expiration.
Kosh Nath Adhikari, project director of the CLPIU, informed that the Unit had sent a drafted design to preserve the old Dharahara and sent it to the Department of Archaeology. The Department has not responded to the draft, resulting in delays, he said.
“For Sundhara, we have given the responsibility to find the water source to the locals. As they have demanded for the water to be brought to the Hiti naturally, we will only be able to begin renovation works on Sundhara after a water source has been found,” Adhikari explained.
In December 2021, the contractor working on the Dharahara project damaged the wooden channel bringing water to the water spout. Following this, the locals formed a struggle committee to ensure nothing else was spoiled or destroyed.
Chini Kaji Maharjan, chairman of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 22, where Sundhara and Dharahara are located, is the coordinator of the committee. He had said he would begin looking for the water source as well as a path to drain excess water by talking with local elders.
Maharjan said this last year. Yet, little has happened since then to show concrete progress. Talking to this daily, he admitted that nothing much had been done but said that he had discussed the issue with the personal secretary of the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Poudel, project manager of the contracting company CIETC-Raman, said they would not do anything for the old Dharahara and Sundhara as they were not part of the new Dharahara project.
