Nepal’s National Reconstruction Authority has said that 493 out of 920 cultural heritage sites damaged in the 2015 earthquake have been built, while 288 were under-construction, The Himalayan Times said.

The reconstructed sites include recently inaugurated Ranipokhari and Dharahara, the northern, southern, and eastern facades of Singha Durbar, the main complex of the country’s administrative headquarters.

According to statistics released by the NRA, the restoration of historic buildings Keshar Mahal, Babar Mahal, Bal Mandir and Ranoddip Palace on the Narayanhiti Museum premises is going on.

The master-plan for the integrated development of the country’s capital Kathmandu that includes Ranipokhari, Tundikhel, Ratna Park, Khula Manch, Bhrikuti Mandap, Dashrath Stadium and Loktantrik Sangrahalaya is in the final stage of approval.

 Master-plans have also been prepared for the development of Narayanhiti Museum, Gorkha and Nuwakot durbar areas and seven archaeological heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley, the Himalayan Times report said.

 Out of 402 monasteries which required restoration due to damage caused by the earthquakes, 294 have been completed. Of the 895 monasteries that needed to be rebuilt, process has begun to reconstruct 264 monasteries.

The NRA said 83 per cent of 7,553 schools were rebuilt during the period, while 17 per cent of schools are under-construction.

The total budget requirement for reconstruction now is 488 billion rupees (Indian currency, the amount being equivalent to USD 6,58,60,96,800.00) as per the revision made on the basis of approved five-year reconstruction and rehabilitation plan.

Out of this, the government and donor agencies have spent Rs 357 billion.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the Richter scale struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, toppling multi-story buildings in Kathmandu, and creating landslides and avalanches in the Himalaya Mountains. Nearly 9,000 people died and more than 22,000 suffered injuries.

(SAM)