Swayambhu Risks Losing World Heritage Site Listing Due To New Prayer Wheels

In a bid to thwart rampant installation of prayer wheels in and around Swayambhunath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Department of Archeology (DoA) has started preparing a list of all illegal structures at that place.

The DoA plans to demolish all such structures that have been built in the World Heritage Site area.

Although adding new structures at World Heritage sites is strictly prohibited, people have been installing prayer wheels at Swayambhunath Stupa, increasing fears that it might be taken down from the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Today, there are too many prayer wheels compared in the area compared to the past. The DoA´s move to prepare the list of illegal structures for demolishing them has come too late.

According to some DoA officials, although they were aware about the construction of illegal praying wheels at Swayambhunath, they could not do anything because those who built them had the backing of political leaders.

“If we tell them to demolish prayer wheels, the very next day we get calls from political leaders asking us to allow the construction,” said Rajesh Suwal, a technician at the Swayambhu Management and Preservation Committee.

“However, we were successful in demolishing a building that was constructed to house a big praying wheel with the help of the DoA,” said Suwal. “The building was constructed by Karma Gurung.”

Saubhagya Pradhananga, chief archeological officer at the DoA, said that they face difficulties preventing construction and later demolishing the wheels as the land is not owned by the DoA. "It is a public land and we have to go through a legal process before taking any action," Pradhananga said.

“After preparing the list of those structures, we will decide what to do with them,” said Pradhananga. “Most of them will be demolished.”

According to her, they have also started listing illegal structures in Basantapur Durbar Square area, also a World Heritage Site.

“People have been treating heritage sites as it pleases them. People should be made aware about the guidelines of heritage sites,” said Pradhananga.

News Source: Myrepublica.com