The team from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee recently visited Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, to study the Gautam Buddha International Airport and the broader Lumbini area. The visit, which took place on Monday, was led by former Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, who currently serves as a Member of Parliament.
The subcommittee, led by Bhattarai, toured significant sites such as the Peace Lamp, Mayadevi Temple, and several monastic zones. Before the visit, a discussion was held regarding the current state of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), completed programs, and the Lumbini Master Plan.
During the visit, Bhattarai emphasized the need for restructuring the Lumbini Development Trust. He pointed out that the existing act does not recognize provincial and local levels, suggesting it should be amended to develop an autonomous and powerful Lumbini Development and Tourism Authority. “The remaining works under the Lumbini Master Plan by Kenzo Tange need to be completed, and the plan should be updated to suit the current times,” Bhattarai stated. He also highlighted the committee’s intention to draw the government’s attention to the low annual income of the Trust and the budget shortfalls for development.
The committee also expressed interest in the ongoing projects under the Lumbini Master Plan, the operation of electric buses in Lumbini, and various developmental activities. LDT member-secretary Sanuraja Shakya noted that the government allocates a very minimal budget exclusively for the master plan. He mentioned that budget constraints have hindered progress on developing ancient sites like Kapilvastu Tilaurakot Palace, Ramgram Stupa with relics, and Devdaha.
Furthermore, LDT Senior Director Gyanin Rai highlighted issues with employee quotas (ONM) and structural approvals. The visiting team included committee coordinator Bhattarai, and Members of Parliament Achyut Prasad Mainali, Amresh Kumar Singh, Bikram Pandey, Manju Khand, Manish Jha, Shyam Kumar Ghimire, and Saraj Ahmad Faruqi.
