JUMLA: The construction of the Karnali High Altitude Training Centre at Lauthchaur in Patarasi Rural Municipality-3 has been delayed due to a land dispute.
The project, envisioned to develop Lauthchaur as the highest-altitude sports city in the world, remains stalled as the required land could not be acquired on time.
According to Purna Singh Bohara, Chairman of Patarasi Rural Municipality, the dispute revolves around whether the training center should be built on land belonging to a local school or at an alternative location.
He said construction would begin after an all-party meeting coordinated by the District Administration Office. Bohara also indicated that part of the school’s land could be used for the center.
However, Vice Chairperson Janmaya Rokaya expressed concern that the budget allocated by the government might go unused due to the ongoing land dispute.
A total of Rs 62 million has been allocated for the project in the current budget, with Rs 30 million already spent. The funds need to be utilized within this fiscal year for the project’s completion.
Despite the delay, Ward Chairperson Govind Rawat reported that the land acquisition process is nearing completion.
Meanwhile, Chandra Bahadur Khadka, Information Officer at the Local Infrastructure Development Project in Surkhet, confirmed that the construction has not progressed due to the unresolved land issue.
Local residents from Ward No. 3 had pledged voluntary support for the project, which aims to establish a world-class high-altitude sports training centre in Karnali. However, the dispute over land ownership continues to hinder the project’s progress.
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