The acclaimed history and fame of Nepalese archeology has suffered a major dent as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has demoted the Kathmandu Valley from its list of World Heritage Sites to its List of World Heritage in Danger on grounds of "uncontrolled urban development". The decision was taken by the ongoing meeting of the World Heritage Committee, the apex executive body of the Convention on World Heritage Sites. UNESCO's action is not surprising, given its repeated dissatisfaction over the construction of modern houses ruining the traditional and architecturally rich buildings around the seven cultural sites in the Valley, and the government not heeding its reminders. The Kathmandu Valley boasts seven cultural sites out of the eight Nepalese heritage sites making it to the coveted UNESCO list - all within the narrow radius of mere 20 square kilometers.

They are Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Changu Narayan Temple. The Kathmandu Valley entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, one year after Nepal ratified the Convention World Heritage. Archeologists have reacted sternly against the government. "It is Nepal's inability to preserve and protect its cultural heritage of world acclaim and its negligence to fulfill its obligations toward the Convention on World Heritage," said an archeologist at the Department of Archeology, on condition of anonymity.

UNESCO have had warned the government of its impending action regarding the deterioration in the Kathmandu Valley as early as 1993. UNESCO had reminded the government to comply with UN guidelines on conservation of the heritage sites while the UN body also continued assessing them all along, simultaneously outlining a list of a 55-point action plan to help avoid endangering them. A high-level UNESCO team last visited the sites four months ago. "The team was satisfied with the overall conservation of the monuments, but they had a serious complaint: the destruction of historical and traditional environment around the monuments," Chandra Prasad Tripathi, an official at the Department of Archeology in charge of the Nepalese World Heritage Sites, told The Kathmandu Post.

According to the UNESCO standard, the houses around the heritage sites are required to maintain traditional architectural designs and roofing, and their height should not exceed 35 feet. These standards have been grossly violated in the valley. In recent years, the sites have seen deterioration in environmental regulations pertaining to the World Heritage Sites. All seven sites, except the Changunarayan Temple in Bhaktapur, lie in core city areas. Traditional buildings around the sites have been replaced with modern ones. They are also higher than the stipulated 35 feet. When asked about the inaction of the government despite repeated warnings of the UNESCO since 1993 to comply with the codes, Tripathi said, "our guidelines for constructions around the sites to the concerned authorities are sadly not being implemented". In addition, electrical transformers, affixed floodlights at houses adjacent to the monuments, advertising billboards and obtrusive display of merchandise are also to blame for the UNESCO decision, according to Tripathi.

OTHER NEWS

• Wild buffaloes to be translocated: The possibility of the wild buffaloes in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve heading for Chitwan or Bardia National Park has increased following a decision to include the animal in the translocation list. The decision was made at a gathering of representatives from the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Department, World Wildlife Fund, International Conservation Union for Nature and Natural Science Museum held in Kathmandu recently.
  
  
• Tour operators hope of industry revival: Following the recent announcement by the Chinese government to lift the ban on travel to China that was imposed in the wake of the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) local tourism entrepreneurs here are hoping that their lost business would revive again. Local tour operators told The Kathmandu Post that they are preparing for Tibet-tours for almost 1,000 tourists within this one week alone. "On Sunday we sent more than 100 tourists to Tibet," informed Jyoti Adhikary, Managing Director of Eco Trek International.
  
  
• Iwasaki arrives at Nepal: Keiichi Iwasaki, a Japanese engineer with an aim to tour the world on foot and bicycle, has cycled into Nepal through Tibet a few days ago. "I am inspired by Nepali cyclist Puskhar Shah," said Keiichi. Nepal is the tenth country he has travelled after Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Combodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos.
  
  
• 'Fastest' climber Lhakpa offers clinching evidence: Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, the summiteer who climbed a top Everest in 10 hours and 56 minutes, once again reiterated today that he, and not Pemba Dorje Sherpa, was the fastest Everest summiteer. Speaking at a programme organised at the Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Academy to honor Everest summiteers, Lhakpa said, "The thirteen time Everest summiteer Appa Sherpa can provide an unimpeachable eyewitnesses account in support of my claim".
  
• Violence, instability mar inflow of US tourists: Embassy of the United States has expressed its serious concerns over ongoing violent street demonstrations and political turmoil in Nepal that has shattered hopes of healthy inflow of US tourists into the kingdom despite the declaration of cease-fire and initiation of peace talks between the government and the Maoists.
  
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu