The Bhutanese Leading the way.
About 43 security personnel deployed on-site, started works to stabilize and salvage the foundations of the Wangdue dzong.
Alongside the works, the Department of Culture (DoC) continues to assess and document the damages to the dzong.
The Division for Conservation of Heritage Sites (DCHS) under the DoC has completed an assessment on the first courtyard (the entrance way) and will start with the second and third assessment after the security personnel have completed their works.
The head of DCHS, Nagtsho Dorji said the documentation and assessment will be taken into account to draw-up the master plan of the dzong reconstruction.
“It will take some time to commence reconstruction because all works are subjective to study,” said Nagtsho Dorji.
Nevertheless, the division still continues with its earlier works that fall under the ‘Conservation of the Wangduephodrang dzong project’.
The DCHS head said as part of the earlier project plans, works on the construction of the dining hall and construction of Dzongda’s residence was underway. The estimated cost for the two-storeyed dining hall will be about Nu 8mn.
Leki Wangchuk, Project Manager of the Conservation of the Wangduephodrang Dzong Project will also assist in the reconstruction project.
He said they will construct a prayer hall at Bajo, and a Goenkhang (deity’s shrine room), also included in the plans.
Construction works on the goenkhang has begun and it is constructed near the new monk’s hostel that had earlier been built during the conservation project.
The goenkhang will be one storeyed, 40 feet in width and 65 feet in length and the construction is cost-estimated between Nu 4-5mn.
DoC Director Dorji Tshering said currently the funds are still being collected, and the USD 50,000 donated earlier by the UN agencies had been used for emergencies, to buy CGI sheets and materials for structures.
The DoC director said funds for the reconstruction of the dzong are collected through the Bhutan Broadcasting Services (BBS) Wangduephodrang dzong fund-raising initiative.
The total sum collected through the BBS is about Nu 6mn (Nu 5,987,140.21)
A unit of the People’s Project, Dharma Project, will repair 12 clay statues that had been damaged during the dzong fire.
