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Lumbini plan: House panel seeks govt stance on deal

KATHMANDU, AUG 16 -
Speaker Subas Nembang-led parliamentary committee formed to monitor the development efforts at Lumbini has directed the government to break its silence over the controversial US$ 3-billion deal signed by the Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF) with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for the development of Buddha’s birthplace.

The parliamentary committee directed the government to correspond to UNIDO and announce its official position regarding the plan that aims to construct new infrastructure and develop Lumbini as an International Peace City.

The ruling follows the hearing conducted by the committee on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav and Culture Minister Khagendra Prasai, among others, on Tuesday afternoon. 

During the discussion, Minister Yadav told lawmakers that the government was not aware of any foreign agreements regarding the development of Lumbini. “Such a proposal should have come through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was surprised when I knew about it through the media,” he said.

Nepali authorities have unofficially disapproved the project signed by APECF and UNIDO in Beijing in the third week of June. The UN agency as well as the foundation had not sought consent from the Nepal government before signing the deal.

In Tuesday’s discussion, lawmakers demanded the committee seek explanations from UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former Crown Prince Paras Shah, who are listed as the co-chair of APECF in its website. However, no decision was made in that regard.

The House panel was formed in June to monitor the implementation of the resolution endorsed by the parliament in 2010 that directed the government to accomplish tasks related to the Master Plan for Lumbini’s development within three years.

Posted on: 2011-08-17 09:23

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