Lumbini, February 22

Thirty-five years have passed since Lumbini Development Master Plan was designed, but work on large projects under the master plan has yet to start.

The master plan was prepared by a Japanese architect in 1978 with the aim of implementing it in 25 years. The failure of the Lumbini Development Fund to implement the master plan has drawn widespread criticism.

As per the plan, construction of six domes, sewer system, high school, Telar River diversion, auditorium hall and work related to electrification, water supply and telecommunication are yet to take place.

According to the LDF officials, it has so far spent six billion rupees for developing infrastructures as envisioned by the master plan and the same amount is needed to complete the remaining projects. The master plan area covers 1,155 bigaha land.

LDF Acting Member Secretary and Engineer  Saroj Bhattarai said that fund was preparing to issue global tender for  implementation of large projects under the master plan. Fund’s  vice-chair Abadhes Kumar Tripathi said that they were preparing to issue  global tender with an aim to finish the work in three years.

Lumbini is expected to attract a whopping number of tourists every year once the master plan is implemented. As per the data with the fund, some 1.7 million tourists visited the birthplace of Lord Buddha in 2018.