LUMBINI, NOVEMBER 12

The council meeting of Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) has approved the budget for the current fiscal 2081/82 BS (2024-25). The council has passed an estimated income and expenditures of Rs 775.5 million.

The budget was endorsed by the meeting held under the chair of Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation.

The budget was presented by LDT treasurer, Dhundiraj Bhattarai and it includes Rs 325.5 million towards internal revenue and Rs 450 million in government grants.

Similarly, LDT member secretary, Sanuraja Shakya, presented the policy and programme for the coming year before the meeting which was passed along with the proposal.

The proposed budget targets increasing revenue by boosting the number of pilgrims, managing donations, gifts, and offerings, selling timber at auction, collecting parking fees, and producing and distributing promotional materials for Lumbini.

Towards the estimation of expenditures, the implementation of the Master Plan for Lumbini, submissions of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, infrastructure development, promotion of Tilaurakot as a World Heritage site, and cooperation with local governments have been prioritised.

During the meeting, Minister Pandey expressed his commitment to providing ample support from the Ministry for the development and promotion of Lumbini. He was of the view that Lumbini and the touristic sector here should secure benefits from the operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport.

State Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Arun Chaudhary, was also present in the meeting.

LDT Vice Chairman Dr. Lharkyal Lama said that they have not got ample support from the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and Tourism. He added that if the government takes a liberal policy to promote Lumbini, the implementation of the Master Plan would be much easier.

Besides, the meeting also agreed to form a task force to study and re-evaluate the contracts and timelines of poorly constructed or underused monasteries and stupas in Lumbini.