ACCORDING to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, more than 1,700 ancient buildings in areas impacted by the Mandalay earthquake will be prioritized and classified into three categories for restoration, maintenance, and reconstruction.
The damaged ancient buildings and significant pagodas will be assessed based on the extent of damage, and restoration efforts will be carried out according to the prioritized categories.
Among the 1,752 ancient buildings, the priority will be given to those with high cultural heritage value. The second priority will include partially damaged buildings with limited original features remaining, while the third priority will cover structures that, except for their foundations, have been almost entirely reconstructed.
Furthermore, restoration and maintenance efforts for ancient buildings and heritage sites will be undertaken in collaboration with UNESCO. This process will be closely supervised by the Department of Archaeology and National Museum, with input from historians, archaeologists, the Myanmar Engineering Society, the Myanmar Architects Association, and the Myanmar Earthquake Committee. — ASH/KNN
