Kathmandu, March 11
The Department of Archeology has started excavation near Chusya Baha in Jyatha of Kathmandu, where the Kathmandu metropolitan city is reportedly constructing a commercial complex instead of restoring the ages-old phalcha and lachhi.
It has been reported that the department is excavating the area after locals filed a written complaint about the ward office being built where a 353-year-old lachhi, an open communal space next to a phalcha, existed.
The department’s archaeological officer Devendra Bhattarai confirms that the excavation started after complaints from the locals and heritage campaigners who told them about the construction of a commercial building in the area.
A team led by archaeological expert Uddhav Acharya on Friday has started the excavation process to determine if there was a phalcha there or not.
One group of locals claim that there was one while another group says there was not.
Heritage activist Alok Siddhi Tuladhar says that the place clearly has the remains of a phalcha. Even an inscription inside Chusya Baha states that the place where the building is being built had a phalcha. But, a local youth club and ward office are adamant that there is no proof of a phalcha existing in and around the place.
Kathmandu metropolitan city’s ward 27 chair Chiniya Man Bajracharya says that the ward will rebuild a phalcha in the place if the Department of Archaeology finds any remains.
