The construction of a trail connecting Besigaun to Narchyang Waterfall in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Myagdi, has come to a halt due to a lack of budget allocation. Visitors must currently hike approximately one kilometer uphill to reach the scenic waterfall. The trail project, initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism of Gandaki Province, saw the completion of only 150 meters in the fiscal year 2079/80, according to Chandraprakash Fagami, Chairperson of the Consumer Committee.
Fagami explained that the project received an initial budget of NPR 1 million, which allowed the construction of the first 150 meters. However, with an additional 750 meters still needed to complete the trail, no further budget has been allocated over the last two fiscal years, leaving the project incomplete. “The plan to extend the trail remains in limbo due to the lack of continued financial support,” Fagami remarked.
The incomplete Narchyang trail is just one example of halted infrastructure projects in Myagdi due to budget shortages. Several plans initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism in Gandaki Province remain unfinished for similar reasons. According to Posh Nath Sharma, Chief of the Myagdi Office for Industry and Tourism, only four out of 18 trail projects started in the fiscal year 2080/81 were completed. “None of the projects, aside from the Kalibrah trail, received funding this year. Inconsistent budgeting from year to year leaves many projects unfinished,” Sharma noted.
Rajkumar Thapa, Chief of the District Coordination Committee of Myagdi, highlighted errors in budget allocation and project selection as key issues. He pointed out that rather than prioritizing essential projects, budgets are often assigned based on influence rather than need, which has contributed to incomplete trail projects.
Stakeholders in the region have stressed the need for continuous funding to complete these unfinished projects, which would allow citizens to benefit from the tourism infrastructure. Rajesh Shakya, Senior Vice President of the Myagdi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, voiced concerns over the relatively lower budget allocated to Myagdi compared to other districts in Gandaki Province. “While other districts receive between NPR 28 million to NPR 50 million for tourism infrastructure, Myagdi received just NPR 12 million for 10 projects this fiscal year,” Shakya said.
In previous years, Gandaki Province allocated NPR 2 million for eight tourism projects in Myagdi in 2078/79, NPR 19.2 million for 21 projects in 2079/80, and NPR 15.6 million for 18 projects in 2080/81.
Bimala Gauchan, a member of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, called for reforms in the process of project prioritization and budget allocation. She emphasized that better coordination among local governments, the private sector, and consumers with relevant authorities could address the challenges faced by trail construction projects in the region.
