KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress central member Gagan Kumar Thapa has emphasised on the need to develop Pashupatinath area and its surrounding area as a heritage monument of the country. Speaking at a corner meet held in his Kathmandu-4 today, the newly elected Member of Parliament Thapa expressed his commitment to accord first priority to the protection and preservation of the religious sites from Jayabageswari to Kutubahal. He also gave assurance to play a role in publicising the ancient Charumati Buddha Bihar. Likewise, provincial Member of Parliament elected from the same constituency (a), Narottam Baidya said, “The local body should now work in an efficient manner in coordination with the higher authorities for infrastructure development and sanitation management at the local level.”