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Kathmandu Tuesday December 25, 2001 Paush 10, 2058.
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Long overdue
The government has dissolved more than eight
committees formed to oversee various aspects of the restoration and development of
Lumbini, one of UNESCO’s four World Heritage Sites in this country. Lumbini, the
birthplace of Lord Buddha, attracts thousands of pilgrims and foreign tourists every year.
The master plan, which was prepared in 1978, covers 1150 bigha of land and comprises a
sacred garden, a monastic zone and a research complex. The government undertook the
development of Lumbini world heritage site after then UN Secretary General U Thant visited
the site in 1967. The Secretary General proposed to the government of Nepal the
development of Lumbini as an international centre of peace. A decade later the renowned
Japanese architect Prof Kenzo Tange came up with the master plan for developing the area.
But in the years since, the project has generated controversy as a result of poor
implementation and misuse of foreign funds that poured in. Millions have been spent under
the project. Concurrently the project has also grown to take in the safeguarding of other
sites of Buddhist significance in that general area. The whole area is an archeological
site rich in findings relating to the beginnings of our civilization. The money allocated
annually by His Majesty’s Government for running the Lumbini Development Trust ( LDT)
was barely enough to cover routine expenses and pay out salaries.
The dissolution of so many committees
involved in the development of Lumbini comes three months after Bal Bahadur KC became
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Minister KC is also chairman of LDT that
has been monitoring foreign funds and executing the master plan for Lumbini’s
development. There has been more than a whiff of corruption in the air and allegations of
graft. People have misused funds donated for the development of the site. And it is sad
but true that with every change in political leadership at the centre has also come a
changing of the guard at development projects and plans, severely affecting the ongoing
work. The Japanese Buddhist Federation had offered to fund renovation work at Lumbini. But
nothing came of it because of frequent changes in government.
HMG must now take cognizance of the way changes in political
leadership have affected development projects in this country. Committees set up for the
restoration of temples and development of religious and historic sites must be able to
continue their work free from the vicissitudes of politics. Also, had the government taken
action against those who misused funds meant for Lumbini, things would have been better
than they are today. The implementation of the master plan would not have taken so many
years. For this the government is to blame more than those directly involved in the
project. Now the sudden dissolution of the committees under LTD has brought every
development activity at Lumbini to a standstill. It has been almost over three decades
since the government started developing Lumbini. Completion of the master plan is long
overdue. Lumbini’s international significance as the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the
apostle of peace and "non-violence", cannot be overstated. |
