Kathmandu, Jul 12
Minister for Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has directed the office bearers and
staff of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) to work in the interest of
the heritage site not for the middlemen.
Addressing a review
meeting of the PADT on Sunday, he directed the organisation to launch the
development initiative at the World Heritage Site after conducting public
hearing from the representatives of federal, provincial and local parliament,
political parties and local leaders.
“I have received
compliant that the PADT was working in the interest of middlemen. Whoever is
involved in it, it is not good and must be stopped immediately. Consider the
interest of the religious site before acting on any plan,” he said.
Minister Bhattarai had
conducted an 8-hour long field observation of the Pashupati Area in January
this year and issued a 48-point directive, including the immediate and
long-term activities.
He had called the
review meeting to know the progress and implementation status of the directives
issued a half-year ago.
The Minister directed
to make preparations to open the Pashupatinath Temple by adopting the health
and safety measures for a certain time on a day.
He asked the PADT
officials to control every activity that intends to harm the properties and
reputation of Pashupatinath for the individual interest. “Various individuals
and groups are eying the properties of the PADT, therefore, you must be
vigilant to control such activities,” he said.
He drew the attention
of the Trust to the encroachment of the land in Gothatar that belonged to
Pashupati.
“Immediately fix the
boundary of the land and create a fence. If there are any structures created in
the land, remove them,” Minister Bhattarai directed.
The country has accorded
high priority to Pashupati Area Development by including it in the national
pride projects. The UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts millions of tourists
and pilgrims each year from Nepal, India and elsewhere.
The minister said that
it was important to screen the private investors that intend to make investment
at the heritage site since the crooked businessmen could ruin the image of the
religious site.
He directed the Trust
to announce the budget for the next fiscal within the second week of the new
fiscal year. Last year, the PADT had announced its annual budget after three
months of the fiscal year.
Member Secretary of the
PADT Dr. Pradeep Dhakal and Executive Director Dr. Ghanashyam Khatiwada had
updated the minister about the activities of the trust.
The Trust has also
prepared a detailed project report of deck parking, Veda school, Deer Park,
Bhandarkhal Park and multi-purpose meeting hall.
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