Kathmandu, September 8:

The Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), the supreme body to regulate, conserve and develop the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is going to regulate the monasteries built in the Lumbini master plan area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Around two dozen monasteries are built, according to Mahayana and Theravada cults, in the second zone of Lumbini. But, reports say many of the monasteries are being run as guest-houses and the noise and commercial activities there are ruining the meditative mood of the Buddhist shrine.

Dr Keshav Man Shakya, the vice-chairman of the LDT, said they are organising a meeting in Kathmandu on September 13 to discuss with the representatives from the monasteries on issues related with the shrines and their responsibilities.

“We will call all the representatives from the monasteries and discuss the important issues with them,” he said, talking to this daily.

He also said that the meeting would also form a network of the monasteries, which would make it easy for LDT to communicate with them. The meeting will also deal with LDT employees and Dharmodaya Sabha, he added.

Shakya further said: “The things have been running so haphazardly that I will have to teach them how to criticise us. Their constructive criticisms are indeed going to be very much helpful for the LDT to move forward.”