Kathmandu, August 28

The annual report made public by Pashupati Area Development Trust recently  shows that it has failed to spend the budget allocated in the last fiscal.

The government had included PADT in the National Pride project since the fiscal 2012-13. Since then it has been receiving budget accordingly for various development projects.

PADT had received Rs 444.17 million budget in the last fiscal to complete 28 development project. The report made public by PADT, however, shows that only six projects have been completed so far. The completed projects include opening of souvenir shops in the area, renovation of various temples, construction of the road from Bhuwaneshwor to Dakshin Dhoka, archaeological excavation in the area, construction of boarding area in B-13 and renovation of Bhasmeshwor sattal that was partially damaged in the 2015 earthquakes.

The report shows that a total of Rs 131 million was spent on various development projects in the year, which only amounts to 29.67 per cent of the total budget.

PADT General Secretary Pradeep Dhakal said a few more projects are on the verge of completion. “We are expecting to complete construction of 10 additional projects within this month, which will take the number of completed projects to 16.”

A total of Rs 1.867 billion has been provided to PADT since the fiscal 2012-13 for the national pride project, of which Rs 751 million has been spent so far. The report also shows that reconstruction and renovation  of 10 temples and sattals that suffered damage in the 2015 earthquakes have been completed so far. There are a total of 518 religious and historical architectural structures inside the area. According to PADT officials, nearly 70 per cent of the structures need renovation or reconstruction after the earthquakes. PADT is receiving separate budget from National Reconstruction Authority for the reconstruction of temples damaged in the earthquakes.

The area was recognised as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 for its archaeological and cultural importance. Pashupati area is spread in some 264 hectares of land, of which 83.55 hectares  is protected as archaeological heritage site.