Sundhara drainage blocked for past 25 years reopens

Kathmandu: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has opened the Sundhara-based drainage that has remained blocked for the past 25 years.

The initiative was taken to restore the blocked water outlet, located alongside the Pashupati Area Jayabageswori Temple, in its ancient form.

With arduous efforts throughout the nights of December 21 and 24, the water outlet was reopened on December 25 morning, informed KMC ward 8 chair Ashaman Sangat.

The stone water spouts dates back the Lichchivi era.

Sangat, also the coordinator of the Metropolitan City Heritage and Tourism Committee, said, “The ancient structure was big where people could enter and clean it.

With the installation of drinking water supply pipes, the original and traditional large drainage structure was destroyed. The water outlet through the drainage was blocked for the past 25 years with the placement of pipes”, he shared.

Drainage opening has turned successful his time after identifying a length of around 60 meters and a depth of 9-12 feet, the ward chair informed.

Sangat says, “This is not just a flow of water. It is also an identity of Newar civilisation. It is a living example of water management systems and original ancient engineering. We are going to restore it”.