Tribhuvan University

Institute of Engineering
PURWANCHAL CAMPUS

Submitted By:
NAME: DILLISHWAR BISHWAKARMA
ROLL NO: 073/BARCH/08

An essay on:
Conservation through community participation

Submitted to:
Department of Architecture
AR. SANJAY MAHARJAN
Abstract
Heritage buildings are of great significance to a community that owns, as it preserves a unique
history to be passed to the generations ahead, preserves the origin and culture of a particular
area and most importantly an attractive existence with positive input on the economy through
tourism. Conservation involves up keeping of a property with the objective of keeping it into
existing state, it involves all processes of repair, restoration, rehabilitation and conservation
which involve participation of various stakeholders but most importantly the surrounding
community. With the case study Kasthamandap and bhaktapur historical town, the study
focused on assessing the local community participation on conservation of historical buildings
by studying strategies adopted. The study involved in depth-Interview, focus group discussion
and observation as methods of data collection, It was observed that the central government
through its antiquities department was the main conservator while local community poorly
participated on preservation activities. Lack of a conducive policy and legislative environment,
unawareness and lack of motivation among the local indigenous members were the main
challenges limiting their participation on historical buildings preservation. The study
recommended measures to be implemented.

Key words: Heritage buildings, conservation, participation, local community,

Kasthamandap, Bhaktapur

Introduction
Heritage buildings are the ones that commemorate the past and enlighten us with the past,
provide chain of continuity between the past and the present, They have architectural,
documentary, archeological, economical advancements as source that attracts social, political
and even spiritual or symbolic values in any country to its national building heritage stated that
these buildings have survived the hazards of 100 years of usefulness and are expected to last
forever, as long as they are wanted, they are the ones that the society for various reasons have
conserved. To maintain and defend these buildings against the external factors attacks and their
decay, various approaches have been employed including preservation, conservation, repair
and rehabilitation, reconstruction, adaptation and re-use. Conservation, as defined by many
writers, is an action taken to minimize the deterioration and damage of heritage so as to avoid
major restoration. Achievement of these approaches depends also on community participation
as they are the ones surrounding the buildings.

Non -involvement of local community to conservation of historical buildings can be one of the
contributing factors to damage and further deterioration of most buildings and other cultural
heritages. Community participation involves democratic decentralization of power and
responsibilities where all groups are involved and responsibilities are divided to ensure
engagement of special talents of citizens. The main principle being to empower people in
decision making in order to perceive positive effects on their lives socially or economically,
providing people with skills and confidence to analyses their situation, reach consensus, make
decision and take action to improve quality of life. Participatory mechanism makes easier for
the government to understand the need of the people around a certain area, brings the
community at a common platform in relation to environment as launching steps in continuous
process of awareness of building and attitudinal change.

Case Study I: Reconstruction of Kasthamandap

The Kasthamandap is the largest and the oldest Mandap (Pavilion) located at Maru tole, ward
no. 20 of Kathmandu district. The three storied pavilion is constructed on a square plinth base
of 18.73 m X 18.73 m. with large open space for halls in each story. The total height of the
structure above plinth level is 16.3 m.

The structure with historical and communal value at the heart of Kathmandu, Kasthmandap has
been exemplary in many senses to analyze the heritage reconstruction. Stakeholders involved
in the reconstruction of Kasthmandap ranges from International community to the central
government to local government and community people. Detailed Structure damage
assessment of the structure was carried out by the team from Durham University, which hinted
the date of construction of the temple to be around seventh century CE, which is older than the
assumed twelfth century. Reconstruction of the Kasthmandap is critical in many dimensions as
the biggest Metropolitan city of the nation is directly involved in the project and the Department
of Archeology has a crucial role to play. The design and construction drawings of the
Kasthmandap were shared for the public display, which was reviewed with some comments.
On May 12, 2017, NRA gave the authority to reconstruct the Kasthmandap to the local
government, i.e. Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Kathmandu Metropolitan City agreed to
manage the required budget where DoA had to avail the required materials for the heritage
reconstruction. The model of reconstruction was unique in the sense that local people were
promised to be involved in the reconstruction process rather than the bidding process. Common
people to experts from different corners came together to review and refine the project with
respect to its cultural and physical nexus. However, KMC is having a hard time coordinating
with the local people and the reconstruction process has been delayed due to lack of
coordination amongst the stakeholders.

Case Study II: Bhaktapur Municipality

One of the oldest and historical cities in Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur city is renowned for its
heritage conservation and its practices in heritage conservation through a community approach.
According to Bhaktapur Municipality, the total number of heritage structures destroyed were:
172 temples, 37 sattals, 256 patis, 88 stone spouts, 252 wells, 36 ponds, 29 monasteries, and
116 other heritage monuments. In this scenario, Bhaktapur municipality has completed the
majority of reconstruction work through the community approach with DoA helping with the
technical and financial assistance, whereas the majority of decisions are carried out through the
municipality with extensive community participation. The municipality has also initiated the
training of masons and carpenters in the process and has become the major supplier of
traditional techniques and elements for the reconstruction in other parts of the valley as well.
One of the most interesting aspects of the heritage reconstruction in Bhaktapur is the
procurement that's followed in most of the projects whereas the municipality is taking lead in
the majority of projects where Turn-Key contracts are often avoided and community
participation is encouraged. The municipality has also opted out from the millions of euros of
the grant from German Government, where the grant had a conditional clause for international
tendering whereas the municipality didn't want to involve the foreign experts in the core
implementation.

(a) Protest during Rani Pokhari Reconstruction (Source: The Kathmandu Post) and (b) Use of
Concrete Post and Brick in Pati
Challenges of reconstruction
Each individual heritage reconstruction is challenging on its own political correctness,
technical difficulties, incompetent implementation governance, weak historical records and
intermittent supply of resources. With the devastation of this scale, no governing body was
prepared for such quality and quantity of reconstruction work. It was nearly impossible for
Department of Authority to carry the entire process but in the mean, while it's been working as
the major custodian and implementing agency from the government. The major authority and
responsibility of the department include investigating the damages, planning the reconstruction
process, managing the resources, implementing and monitoring the reconstruction process.
Challenge for the coordination amongst different stakeholders has been new to the department
where lack of proper recording mechanism delayed the process. With a positive approach
forwarded by DoA in coordination with NRA, there are still technical, bureaucratic and
practical hassles in the reconstruction process. However, it will be quite a blanket approach to
explore the challenges of heritage with a single perspective but some of the major issues are
highlighted below.

Materials and Technology

Inconvenient access to local materials and technology has been one of the major challenges in
the reconstruction process. One of the most important materials in the Nepalese traditional
architecture is the Sal Wood, and Surkhi Mortar, of which availability is rare and erratic in
quality in present time. Reconstruction of the heritage structures of this scale is challenging in
its own and the government was not prepared for such incidents. Carpenters, Sculpture artists,
skilled masons, and other skilled manpower are also scarcely available for this scale of
reconstruction with mud mortar and wood whereas it‘s always quicker and easily available for
the modern construction dominated by materials like concrete and steels(Figure 2b).

Conclusion
Conservation is essential to prevent the monuments for decaying, deteriorating and ultimately
disappearing. All the monuments are the part of the history and we have to preserve and protect
them for the future. Nepal government has taken various steps to protect and conserve the
heritage and monuments. Community participation not only helps in conservation of historical
monuments but also helps to keep the social, cultural values of the area alive through the
conservation. Conservation through community participation helps to conserve the originality
of the historical building. This type of conservation programme reminds us of our
responsibilities towards conservation, preservation of our culture and history.
References:

https://www.irjet.net/archives/V5/i5/IRJET-V5I5423.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333841179_Reconstruction_of_heritage_structures
_in_Nepal_after_2015_Gorkha_Nepal_earthquake

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330843125_CONSERVATION_OF_CULTURAL_
HERITAGE_IN_KATHMANDU_VALLEY_A_STAKEHOLDER_PERSPECTIVE