State of Conservation
Kathmandu Valley
(Nepal)
Factors affecting the property in 2012*
- Housing
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Uncontrolled urban development resulting in the loss of traditional urban fabric, in particular privately-owned houses;
b) Lack of coordinated management mechanism.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2012
Total amount provided to the property: USD 10 million (1979-2001) - International Safeguarding Campaign; USD 45,000 (2005) - Netherlands Funds-in-Trust
International Assistance granted to the property until 2012
Requests Approved: 0
(from 1979-2006)
Total Amount Approved: 342,679USD
2006 | Completion and Implementation of the Integrated Management Plan ... | 27,000 USD |
1998 | Preparing a full inventory of 120 buildings within the ... | 20,000 USD |
1998 | On site promotion activity at Kathmandu | 5,000 USD |
1998 | Structural survey of the 55 Windows Palace building in the ... | 19,800 USD |
1997 |
Joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Government of Nepal team to conduct a ...
Reapproval: 08 Apr, 1999 (n°1141 - 2,550 USD)
|
35,000 USD |
1997 | Studies on traditional architecture, construction and ... | 28,000 USD |
1997 | Emergency assistance for Degu Taleju Mandir Monument in Patan, ... | 19,969 USD |
1997 | Training Course for the Recording and Documentation of the Seven ... | 14,000 USD |
1994 | Costs of a resident International Technical Advisor for 6 months ... | 52,000 USD |
1994 | Financial contribution for the restoration of Patukva Agamchen ... | 20,600 USD |
1994 | Financial contribution for the restoration of Degu Taleju Mandir ... | 24,310 USD |
1989 | Work and equipment for the restoration of the roof of the Patan ... | 14,000 USD |
1989 | Urgent works for the restoration of the roof of the Patan Temple ... | 20,000 USD |
1980 | Additional financial assistance for Swayambhu Temple in Kathmandu ... | 13,000 USD |
1979 | Financial assistance for the consolidation of Swayambhu Temple in ... | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2012**
February 2003: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS high level mission; April 2007: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission; March 2011: UNESCO international expert advisory mission; November 2011: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2012
A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission was undertaken from 23 to 28 November 2011 to the property to assess the state of conservation of the property including examination of the proposed road constructions and airport extension.
On 30 January 2012, the State Party submitted a concise state of conservation report.
a) Proposed Tunnel Road Construction at Pashupati Monument Zone
The State Party reports that the proposed tunnel road construction crossing the Pashupati monument zone has been abandoned, as requested by the Committee. This road, started in 2007, would have bifurcated the monument zone. Active work was stopped after the threat that constituted to the property was recognized. Mitigation to return the area to its pre-2007 appearance was requested by the World Heritage Committee decision. The State Party informs that this mitigation was discussed with the November 2011 mission but provides no further detail about implementation of such mitigation measures.
The November 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission recommended that mitigation work on the road construction already undertaken in the Pashupati Monument Zone is essential, especially the construction work had been abandoned and an ecological restoration which should be undertaken immediately to return the area to its pre-2007 appearance. The resolution of the question for a transport infrastructure, in particular a new road proposal is urgently required, and clearly defined procedures to guide future traffic planning and road building should be developed and respected.
The mission also recommended that the Committee should review the progress made on the issue of an alternative route around the boundary of the property.
The mission considered that the Army’s presence within the property should be minimized and its use of part of the property as a Golf Club should cease. A transport and urban planning strategy for the whole city should be developed and adopted, and the impact of the proposed airport extension, ring road widening and new development to the north of the Pashupati Monument Zone should be assessed. Only projects judged not to impact adversely upon the Outstanding Universal Value of the property should be included in the Strategy.
b) Implementation of the Integrated Management Plan (IMP)
The State Party indicates that the current Integrated Management plan for the property is five years old and will need to be reviewed and updated.
The November 2011 mission considered that the Nepali government agencies should be commended, for their efforts towards implementation of the property’s 2007 Integrated Management Plan (IMP).
The mission recommended that the successful development of the IMP should be followed by the formation of a collaborative structure between government departments, other agencies and communities to support implementation and by mechanisms to undertake impact assessments of proposed developments. Site specific management regimes and building regulations for each of the seven areas of the property need to be developed and the Outstanding Universal Value communicated by the Department of Archaelogy to all stakeholders. Further, the mission considered that additional resources should be made available to support the Coordinative Working Committee to implement the IMP. In addition, a disaster risk management plan should be developed.
c) Conservation
The mission noted that inappropriate development, such as that near the Pashupati Shrine and Hanuman Dhoka site, should be avoided. Efforts should be made to preserve key historical buildings across all monument zones. Furthermore conservation projects must be subject to heritage impact assessment and monitoring to ensure that conservation standards are applied, as they were found to be variable. Grant aid should be available for conservation of private buildings within the property.
In terms of on-site conservation of the property, the mission recommends that the new structure adjacent to the Pujari Math in the Bhaktapur site has an adverse impact on the historic character and setting and should be demolished. However, the reuse of a historic building to house the Patan Museum is exemplary and this example should be followed with other structures. Traditional building crafts should be encouraged. Communication with the general public should be improved to ensure appropriate understanding and appreciation of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value.
d) Heritage Impact Assessment
A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the proposed developments was requested by the Committee in Decision 35 COM 7B.75, for review by the Advisory bodies. The Decision implied that this should be produced for both developments mentioned in the Decision – the proposed road and the proposed airport extension. The same decision requested a report on the implementation of the recommendations of the March 2011 advisory mission, which examined the new road proposals and necessary repairs to the damaged natural drainage system, restoration of damaged forest areas, controls over pedestrian and vehicular access and the need to secure clear boundaries for the property.
The State Party has not produced a formal HIA for either proposal, and the report merely states that this will be produced for the new road once a consensus on the new proposal has been reached. The March 2011 advisory mission recommendations are not addressed by the State Party report.
e) Proposed reconstruction of Bhaidegah Temple, Patan Durbar Square
The Mission noted a draft proposal for this reconstruction. The State Party should provide full justification for the rebuilding and detailed architectural drawings including information on the materials and ornamentation so that a full review maybe undertaken by ICOMOS. A report compiled by ICOMOS assessing the State Party’s proposals for reconstruction of Patan Durbar Square is added to the mission report.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2012
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that progress has been made with the implementation of the Integrated Management Plan. They concur with the conclusions and recommendations of the November 2011 mission. However, they consider that several issues raised in Decision 35 COM 7B.75 remain unresolved. The confirmation of the abandonment of the new tunnel road is welcome.
The resolution of the transport infrastructure issue to be followed by the realigned road and the mitigation of the work already undertaken are urgently required. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory bodies underscore the importance of implementing the mission’s recommendations for the development of an urban transport strategy, the removal of inappropriate structures and land usage, the establishment of development control measures including regulations for heritage impact assessments, the development of disaster risk management plan, the encouragement of better, and appropriately funded conservation projects and the establishment of improved coordination and communication between relevant government departments and with the general public.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2012
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Adopted
-
Draft Decision
36COM 7B.66
Kathmandu Valley (Nepal) (C 121)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.75, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Takes note of the results of the November 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the property;
4. Welcomes the cancellation of the tunnel road construction;
5. Urges the State Party to propose an alternative new route by determining a trajectory which passes around and outside the property boundary and to mitigate urgently the road construction work at Pashupati Monument Zone through a scheme of ecological restoration;
6. Requests the State Party to implement the recommendations of the November 2011 mission with regard to the development of an urban transport strategy, strengthened development control, including regulation for heritage impact assessment, a disaster risk management plan and improved systems of coordination and communication between government departments and other stakeholders;
7. Encourages the State Party to take measures to ensure adherence to international conservation standards for major conservation projects and to mobilize funding and grant aid for these projects;
8. Also requests the State Party’s to consider all ways to mitigate the impact of the inappropriate new structure adjacent to the Pujari Math of Bhaktapur site, and to minimise the presence of the Army within the property to levels necessary for security;
9. Considers that the State Party decision to review the Integrated Management Plan provides an opportunity to implement the recommendations of the 2011 mission;
10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre detailed information, including independently prepared heritage impact assessments, for proposed developments for the revised new road, the airport extension or any other major scheme of development, conservation or reconstruction, in particular for the Bhaidegah Temple in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
11. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.
Draft Decision 36 COM 7B.66
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.75, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Takes note of the results of the November 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the property;
4. Welcomes the cancellation of the tunnel road construction;
5. Urges the State Party to propose an alternative new route by determining a trajectory which passes around and outside the property boundary and to mitigate urgently the road construction work at Pashupati Monument Zone through a scheme of ecological restoration;
6. Requests the State Party to implement the recommendations of the November 2011 mission with regard to the development of an urban transport strategy, strengthened development control, including regulation for heritage impact assessment, a disaster risk management plan and improved systems of coordination and communication between government departments and other stakeholders;
7. Encourages the State Party to take measures to ensure adherence to international conservation standards for major conservation projects and to mobilize funding and grant aid for these projects;
8. Also requests the State Party’s to consider all ways to mitigate the impact of the inappropriate new structure adjacent to the Pujari Math of Bhaktapur site, and to minimise the presence of the Army within the property to levels necessary for security;
9. Considers that the State Party decision to review the Integrated Management Plan provides an opportunity to implement the recommendations of the 2011 mission;
10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre detailed information, including independently prepared heritage impact assessments, for proposed developments for the revised new road, the airport extension or any other major scheme of development, conservation or reconstruction, in particular for the Bhaidegah Temple in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
11. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.
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* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.