LUMBINI: The Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) council has approved the budget for the current fiscal year 2081/82 BS (2024-25), with an estimated income and expenditure totaling Rs 775.5 million.
The budget was endorsed at a council meeting chaired by Badri Prasad Pandey, the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation.
LDT Treasurer Dhundiraj Bhattarai presented the budget, which includes Rs 325.5 million in internal revenue and Rs 450 million in government grants.
LDT Member Secretary Sanuraja Shakya also presented the policy and program for the coming year, which was passed along with the budget proposal.
The proposed budget focuses on increasing revenue through several initiatives, including boosting the number of pilgrims, managing donations and offerings, selling timber at auction, collecting parking fees, and producing promotional materials for Lumbini.
On the expenditure side, priority will be given to the implementation of the Lumbini Master Plan, compliance with UNESCO World Heritage Committee requirements, infrastructure development, promotion of Tilaurakot as a World Heritage site, and strengthening cooperation with local governments.
Minister Pandey expressed his commitment to providing full support from the Ministry for the development and promotion of Lumbini.
He emphasized the potential benefits for Lumbini and the tourism sector from the operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport.
State Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Arun Chaudhary also attended the meeting.
LDT Vice Chairman Dr. Lharkyal Lama raised concerns about insufficient support from the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and Tourism.
He suggested that a more liberal government policy to promote Lumbini would greatly facilitate the implementation of the Master Plan.
Additionally, the meeting agreed to form a task force to assess and re-evaluate contracts and timelines related to poorly constructed or underused monasteries and stupas in Lumbini.
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