Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Vice President Nanda Bahaur Pun have pledged to donate their one month's salary for rebuilding the historic quake-hit Dhararaha monument here.
"Dhararaha is the symbol of our unity and strength, it is the identity of all Nepalis, so it has to be reconstructed under the fund collected from Nepali citizens," said Oli.
Dharahara, also called Bhimsen Tower, was a nine-storey, 61.88-metre-tall tower at the center of Sundhara in Kathmandu. Most of the tower collapsed in the Nepal earthquake, but the base remains.
The Prime Minister was speaking at launch of a campaign to "I will construct Dharahara" that aims to collect funds for the reconstruction of the historic monument commenced yesterday.
Pun will also donate his one-month salary for reconstruction of Dhararaha.
Inaugurating the reconstruction process of Dharahara at Sundhara yesterday, Oli pledged to give his one month's salary for the citizen's fund. He also requested all Nepalis living in and outside of the country to donate fund for the reconstruction of Dharahara, Kathmandu Post reported.
Oli also visited Pashupatinath Temple on Monday, the day especially dedicated to Lord Shiva and paid homage to the famed Hind temple on the occasion.
Member-Secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Dr Govinda Tandon said Oli expressed concern regarding reconstruction of the damaged structure within the Pashupatinath complex and asked if any help is required for the protection and preservation of the temple.
The government has allocated Rs 250 million for the reconstruction. The Trust has stated that it will ask the government for the shortfall of the amount for reconstruction.
This is the first time Oli visited Pashupatinath after becoming the prime minister.
The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous, sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupatinath and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River.
According to official records, 8,891 people were killed in the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 last year while 22,200 others were injured in the tremor subsequent aftershocks.
