KATHMANDU: A delegation of local residents, including Ward 22 Chair Chinikaji Maharjan and UML Kathmandu District Secretary Rajesh Shakya, met Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at Baluwatar to request a plan for proper preservation of the historic Sundhara water spout and the old Dharahara remains, while maintaining the natural flow of water in the area.

The delegation also expressed gratitude for the government’s special initiative to develop Sundhara into an open garden, establish a currency and earthquake museum, and construct the country’s largest underground parking facility along with a new Dharahara tower.

In 1987 (2044 BS), when the Employees Provident Fund attempted to build an office complex with two floors of underground parking on the Sundhara site, the excavation damaged the natural underground water flow, which runs continuously 24 hours a day.

Due to local opposition, the then municipal council revoked the construction permit, preserving the area’s natural heritage.

After 2000 BS (around 1943 AD), the then leadership of Kathmandu Metropolitan City reached an agreement with the Employees Provident Fund to repair the underground water structure damaged during construction of the current building, without completing the formal map approval process. The agreement included modifying the building design to prevent further damage.

Currently, the underground drainage system that carries water from Sundhara is blocked by debris, preventing water flow. Due to lack of resources, locals have informed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli about the inability to clear the blockage.

Before the reconstruction of the earthquake-damaged Dharahara, the National Reconstruction Authority had recommended prioritizing preservation of the historically, culturally, and religiously significant Sundhara’s natural water flow and protecting the remaining parts of Dharahara. However, locals complain that these recommendations have not been followed.

Prime Minister Oli assured that the central government would facilitate efforts for heritage conservation. He also emphasized the need for institutional initiatives within Kathmandu Metropolitan City to protect cultural and historical heritage, according to information from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.