Kavre, October 10

The much ambitious project of developing Kavre district as a major tourism destination has failed to take off, thanks to the negligence of the concerned authorities.

In April/May last year, the District Development Committee had devised a five-year-plan to this effect but the plan has yet to enter implementation phase. In the last fiscal, a fund of around Rs 1.3 million meant for first phase of the project was frozen.

According to sources, project implementation has been delayed due to obstruction by political leaders. “As all the three major parties are staking claim to the project, it has failed to take off,” sources said, adding the DDC is planning to include the project in this year’s periodic district plan.

As per the plan, new trekking routes will be explored and awareness campaigns will be conducted to educate the locals about the benefits of tourism.

According to Prahlad Pyakurel of Kavre DDC, the project is on the priority list and will soon begin. “In the initial stage, places with high tourism potential will be studied and identified. Soon after that we will start building necessary facilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists on the Dhulikhel-Nagarkot route is declining. Dhulikhel, Namobuddha, Palanchock Bhagawati, Dolalghat, Panauti, Balthali, Timal, Narayansthan and Bethanchowk are among the places in the district that have high tourism potential.