KATHMANDU, JULY 17
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in a bid to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyle, has started the construction of a meditation park at Chamati of Kathmandu by laying a foundation stone at a function today.
While laying the foundation stone of the park, Mayor of KMC Bidhya Sundar Shakya said that the park would help, especially the elderly and children, to spend their leisure ltime. Shakya also said that he was committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of elderly people. He also said that KMC had already built a number of elderly entertainment centres inside the valley. "We hope that this park is a first of its kind inside the valley," Shakya added.
Establishing a meditation park was one of the mayor's election campaign announcements.
Though it took longer than expected, Mayor Shakya finally delivered on the election promise. "We should have started the work a year ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delay in starting the construction work," Mayor Shakya said.
The park is being built on 14 aana land (around 4,800 square feet), owned by Chamati Land Development Project with the support of the consumers committee of the area. The park is being built at a cost of Rs 5.52 million. Fifteen per cent of the total cost (approximately Rs 825,000) will be borne by locals while the remaining 85 per cent will be borne by the local government.
The meditation park was first proposed by locals around 20 years ago. Many leaders during the 2017 local government election had promised to build the park within a few years. Ward 15 Chair and Spokesperson for KMC Ishwor Man Dangol said that they were happy to build the long awaited park with the support of people.
Other local leaders and participants at the ground-breaking ceremony said the park would help instill spiritual values in the younger generation.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 18 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
