ABSTRACT
Disasters caused by natural and human-induced hazards such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones and fires cause tremendous loss of lives, livelihoods and properties. International donor agencies need to make critical choices regarding the basic philosophy governing post-disaster interventions undertaken as part of the recovery process. The debate on appropriate technology for post-disaster recovery of cultural heritage is also linked to the process followed for reconstruction. By April 2016, the Kathmandu Municipal Corporation had decided that heritage buildings such as Kasthamandap would be built through the tender process, in which construction firms place bids and the lowest bidder is given the contract. Cultural heritage is increasingly vulnerable to disasters, donor agencies should not see it merely as a passive victim of disaster. The cultural dimension in general and heritage in particular plays an important role in sustainable recovery and rehabilitation of communities following a disaster.
