Lalitpur Mayor Claims Completion of Buddhist Heritage Preservation and Reconstruction

Kathmandu. The Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Chiribabu Maharjan, has stated that the preservation and reconstruction of tangible and intangible heritage related to the Buddhist community within the metropolis has been completed during his tenure. He expressed this view while addressing a program organized at the United Nations office premises on the occasion of the 2570th Buddha Jayanti.

Mayor Maharjan recalled his commitment in his first term to leave no stone unturned in the reconstruction and renovation of monasteries, bahals, chaityas, and temples in Lalitpur, and mentioned that these works have now been completed. Discussing the contribution of the late former Mayor Buddharaj Bajracharya in the context of heritage preservation, Maharjan expressed gratitude to the governments of India and Japan for their support in the reconstruction process.

He also informed that for the preservation of intangible heritage along with tangible heritage, the metropolis has provided financial stability by establishing the 'Buddha Jayanti Celebration Committee' and an 'Akshaya Kosh' for the operation of the 'Mahasamayak' festival held every four years. Maharjan, who is also the President of the Kathmandu Valley Mayors' Forum, has put forward a new proposal to protect public land along riverbanks from encroachment. He argues that if attractive parks with Buddha statues are built in the vacant areas along the riverbanks, they can be managed properly and future encroachments can be prevented.

He claimed that according to his plan, the revival of most of the Buddhist heritage in the metropolis has already been done and urged all concerned to provide information if any work remains. He stated that there is no landless problem in Lalitpur Metropolitan City and although parks have been built in the available riverbank areas, this could be an excellent option for neighboring metropolitan cities and municipalities.

Expressing commitment to discuss this proposal soon at the Valley Mayors' Forum, he expected constructive cooperation from intellectuals and Buddhist scholars in this work. Stating that this is his last year as the provision allows serving only two terms as Mayor according to the constitution of Nepal, he clarified that heritage preservation has been given high priority during his tenure.