By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Feb. 5: The Lumbini Master Plan was conceived in 1978 with the sole intent to facilitate and promote the historically significant birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Forty-three years thenceforth, the ambitious project still has about 20 per cent of the work that remains to be completed.

A brainchild of Japanese Professor and architect, Kenzo Tange, the master plan has been translated into action by almost 80 per cent.

To bolster Lumbini’s importance as one of the holiest Buddhist centres, the government and the United Nations joined hands and envisaged developing the area sprawling over three square kilometres as an attractive pilgrimage site for people of all religious beliefs from around the world.

However, over the years, the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), responsible for the implementation and completion of the master plan, has been constantly drawing flask for its inefficiency.

Member Secretary of LDT, Sanuraja Shakya, said that so far only 80 per cent of works of the plan had been completed. The construction works of the holy zone, international Bihar area, central canal, link road, museum, research centre have been completed and all remaining works of the plan would be completed within three years, he said.

The Master Plan demarcates the three square kilometres of Lumbini into three zones—the Sacred Garden, the Monastic Zone, and the Cultural Centre and New Lumbini Village.

There are 20 major components under the three divided sections of the Master Plan. 

According to the LDT, lack of sufficient budget, resources, government inattention and inactiveness of national and international committees have been the major contributing factors behind the delay.

For this fiscal year, the government has entrusted LDT with Rs. 1 billion towards executing the Master Plan.