Kathmandu, September 13:

A board meeting of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) today approved a budget of Rs 170 million for infrastructure development at the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

The trust decided to complete the construction of a pond in the sacred garden, a canal and a boundary wall.

Vice-chairman of the LDT Dr Keshav Man Shakya said the construction works, which had been stalled for several years due various reasons, would resume and be completed this year.

In today’s meeting, discussions were also held on possible stakeholders for the development of Lumbini.

The meet also decided to seek assistance from religious groups that had been indifferent to the development works going on in and around the shrine. “We will be encouraging religious groups to take part in the development works, as, either they are not showing keen interest or we have not been able to get their cooperation,” Shakya said.

In the meeting, members of the board raised various issues on internal management and internal fund raising. Lumbini is one of the four World Heritage Sites in Nepal.