Pashupati Area
PADT Moving With Precision

By Mohan K.C.

PASHUPATI Area that includes the holy and religious temple of Lord Pashupatinath is the focal point of all Hindus around the world. A pilgrimage to this temple is the wish of every Hindu. It is not surprising that not only during Maha Shivaratri but in other festivals celebrated here there are tens of thousands pilgrims not only from within the country but from abroad as well.

Immemorial

Lord Pashupatinath has been revered since time immemorial. Situated along the west bank of the Bagmati River, the serenity of the environment is to be experienced to be believed. Not only this the cultural, historical and architectural splendour of the main temple and others offer a unique insight into the heritage. For all this Pashupati Area has been included in the World Heritage List signifying that it must be preserved as it belongs to the whole world. Herein, it may be worth mentioning that the area is among the seven heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

It is not only the duty of only the concerned body but everyone to see that the area retains its glory and charm both for religious and aesthetic purposes. It is also a site where tourists come in hordes both domestic and international. It stands to reason then that this place must receive due attention to make it attractive and clean.

A responsible body Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was formed to meet the challenges of protecting the area from encroachment due to rapid urbanisation. The people's greed for prime real estate has affected the area with new structures coming up without due clearance from the concerned bodies. This naturally led to the congestion of the approach road to the holiest of holy Lord Pashupatinath Temple.

Cleanliness of the area was similarly affected. The Bagmati river that flows beside the temple was so polluted in the past that it was impossible for the devout to take a holy dip in its waters. The river was polluted because of the direct mixing of raw sewage and effluents from industries. This was a grave problem. Though it was a slow process, a stretch of the river has been cleaned. This has brought back the good old days when one could observe the river filled with people taking a bath. The stink and the dirty appearance of the river, at least along the temple area, present a clean look.

PADT, though it worked very slowly in the past, has now swung into action to make the area a befitting place as religious site. The action of emptying the patis and sattals, scattered around the core area, of unauthorised people was the first step. It was a harsh measure to be taken against people who had been living there for decades but it was a necessity. Though there were protests of sorts yet that was a step to enhance the image of Pashupati Area.

Recently, under its first phase of the master plan implemented some three years back, the eyes of PADT fell on 119 houses to the west of the temple of Lord Pashupatinath. Out of them one hundred and ten houses have already been demolished. This was necessary according to the master plan itself. Gradually the shape of better things is emerging.

But whatever plan that PADT has there is always a lack of adequate funds to smoothly accomplish them. The first problem that PADT faced was compensating the people whose houses had been demolished. It also needs funds to carry on the daily works of conducting the prayers and worships at the various temples and shrines in the area. Maintaining cleanliness, supply of water, street lamps, installing pinnacles in temples and so on. Despite the constraints the works of developing the area is going.

Now the PADT has requested the government to provide it with funds to carry on its works. Earlier the government had provided it with Rs. 100 million which all went for compensating the 119 house owners and acquiring 22 ropanies of land. Now it wants the government to give it some Rs. 300 million so that further works can be conducted. The money is meagre when compared to the praiseworthy work that is being carried out.

PADT also has plans to acquire more houses and land from the police post at Gaushala to Tilganga Pingansthan. This will entail further investment which PADT cannot do from its own resources. It also has plans to ask international organisations to give it interest free loans to materialise the ambitious goals.

Heritage

PADT can move ahead with the necessary works if it is given support by the people. Everyone must contribute from his/her own respective places for the actual development of the area. Pashupati Area is a heritage site and it behoves on all to maintain the glory for the posterity to cherish.

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