24 Chait, Butwal. With the government’s decision to approve a loan worth 85 million US dollars (about 12.5 billion rupees) from the World Bank, it is certain that the ‘Greater Lumbini’ project will be implemented.

Among the decisions of the meeting held today (Tuesday) of the Council of Ministers, the decision to approve this loan was number one.

The board meeting of the World Bank on March 13th in Washington DC, USA, decided to grant a loan for the ‘Greater Lumbini Area Development Project’ which includes Rupdehi, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi districts related to Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini.

According to the Lumbini Development Fund, a budget of more than 12.35 billion rupees has been estimated for the implementation of this project, which has been advanced through the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Tourism.

Former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel put forward as a dream project a few years ago with the aim of developing the land of three districts including Bardghat in Nawalparasi in the east, Chandrauta in Shivraj municipality in Kapilvastu and Rupandehi in the middle as ‘Greater Lumbini Area Development Area’ (GLAAD) project. This issue was also included in his election commitment.

Gyanin Rai, senior director of Lumbini Development Fund, said that although the process has been going on for a few years to collect resources for the project, it has almost collapsed, but it has been successful in the last one year after working very hard. He informed that the project will be implemented after the Cabinet meeting accepts the loan.

The Greater Lumbini Area Development Project is a comprehensive tourism-infrastructure and heritage conservation program implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Lumbini Provincial Government, relevant local levels and the World Bank.

The joint study report of the project was prepared and the international donor agency reached the headquarters of the World Bank. In this project, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the municipalities related to the birthplace of Buddha in Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi West are cooperating. A joint team of the Government of Nepal and the World Bank was involved in its study.

According to the vice president of the fund, Lharkyal Lama, the international donor agency is positive in the study report, the heads and leaders of the respective municipalities of Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi are united to cooperate with the fund, so the World Bank is ready to give loans for the project.

“When this project is implemented, the Greater Lumbini area will become a new and attractive tourist destination not only for Vauddhamargi but also for tourists from all over the world,” Lama said.

Tilaurakot is the archaeological ruins of the ancient Shakya kingdom. The Stupa at Ramgram in Nawalparasi is another important heritage site. It is considered to be the only intact stupa containing the original remains of the Buddha. The Greater Lumbini Area Development Project will focus on these key locations.

A few years ago, the project of Kathmandu Valley Vision-2040 along with Greater Lumbini was decided. But in that project, more than 18 municipalities of the valley are stuck in coordination work.

The project aims to establish Lumbini as a spiritual, cultural and tourism center and advance the infrastructure, economic activity, employment and sustainable urban development of the entire region in an integrated manner. The issues of preservation of heritage, sustainable development, good governance and livelihood of the community have been prioritized in it.

Former Finance Minister Paudel claims that this scheme, which was matured in concept through coordination with donor agencies, step-by-step discussions and mobilization of experts, is seen as an important project not only for the three districts but also as one of the ‘dream projects’ of Nepal.

“Through multi-sector cooperation, inter-governmental coordination and international partnership, Lumbini is the center and it is resolved to make the entire region a model region for religious tourism, cultural preservation and sustainable economic prosperity,” said former finance minister Paudel.

Lumbini is a world heritage site which is considered as the highest pilgrimage site. The Mayadevi temple, the birthplace of Buddha, the sacred Pushkarini pond and the Ashoka pillar, along with the marker stones, are important heritage sites.

The Greater Lumbini Area Development Project will now focus on the main areas of the three districts and later will include other areas as well.

According to the environmental and social standards of the World Bank, gender equality, climate resilience and sustainability are mainly included in the implementation of the project.

Along with the protection of the Lumbini area, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha and a world heritage site, local infrastructure, tourism promotion, job creation and improvement of the community’s standard of living have been requested to be the main goals of the project.

Harijan, head of Kawa of Lumbini Cultural Municipality, says that municipalities should select and implement projects at the local level, prioritize tourism infrastructure such as roads, sewers, footpaths and public facilities, and an integrated implementation structure is necessary.

Municipalities have expressed their belief that the project will make a significant contribution to integrated development, cultural heritage protection, strengthening of tourism infrastructure and expansion of local economic activities.

The project in the first phase is mainly focused on Buddhist heritage sites including Mayadevi Temple (Lumbini), Tilaurakot, Devadah and Ramgram. After that, it will be expanded to cover the hilly districts as well.

According to the Ministry of Urban Development, its purpose is to improve tourism-related infrastructure and services, increase annual tourist arrivals, increase visitor satisfaction, and expand local employment and entrepreneurship.

The project will promote an integrated tourism approach for the Buddhist circuit through destination planning and local economic development, women and youth-led enterprises, skills development and responsible involvement of the private sector. In addition, visitor facilities, signage, landscaping, mobility solutions and public spaces will be upgraded while improving critical tourism infrastructure.

For the environmental and social management of the project, local residents, artisans, informal sellers, farmers, monasteries and religious institutions, government agencies and visitors have been made to participate in the information, consultation and decision-making process.

According to the environmental and social standards of the World Bank, gender equality, climate resilience and sustainability are included in the mainstream.

As the participation of women in Nepal’s tourism sector is only about 20 percent, women-led businesses will be empowered through training, market access and advisory support.

In addition, the project aims to ensure social accountability and sustainable development through climate-smart measures such as water-sanitation, drainage, energy-efficient infrastructure, complete climate and disaster risk assessment and a complaint resolution system with a multilingual helpline, according to the details released by the Ministry of Urban Development.