Butwal.
A statue of Buddha is to be erected in the hill park of Butwal, which is about 40 km away from Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha.
The Butwal Sub-Metropolitan Municipality has issued a notice to determine the area for environmental impact assessment to build a park with Buddha statues. At the same time, the process of constructing the 'Big Buddha Statue', which has been a concept for a long time, has moved forward.
A public notice has been issued to determine the areas that may be affected at the Buddhamurti Park construction site and seek the opinion of the locals, organizations and stakeholders.
Chief of the sub-metropolis Shivaraj Subedi informed that the work of environmental impact assessment of the park construction site has been taken forward. The information issued on Tuesday has requested the affected wards and schools, hospitals, health posts and concerned persons or institutions in the area to provide written opinions and suggestions within seven days.
The five-year periodical plan made by Butwal Sub-metropolis in 2075 BS also included the plan to build a park with a Buddha statue in the hill park. As per the plan, Lalitpur Multidisciplinary Consultant has prepared DPR after studying the pre-feasibility of the plan. According to the consultancy, Dr. expert in Buddhist philosophy. The DPR has been prepared on the advice of Vijay Raj Bajracharya and Rajkumar Shakya, an artist who has made a name for himself by making Buddha statues in the country and abroad.
The consultancy has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) with two project options. The consultancy presented the report at a function held in Kathmandu on July 22 with the participation of Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyawali, representatives of the Ministry of Finance Basanta Adhikari and Shrikrishna Nepal, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan Chief Shivaraj Subedi and then Chief Administrative Officer Chakrapadi Sharma. After that, the federal government and the state government have also shown interest in investing in the Buddha statue project.
In the first of the two options given by the consultancy, only the face of the Buddha can be covered with gold. In the second, the whole part of the idol can be covered with gold. Chief Subedi says that it will be decided which option of the project to go for based on the availability of available resources.
The source of the project will be ensured after the completion of EIA and the acquisition of land. For EIA, the sub-metropolitan government has given the consultant Hands for Greenery Conservation Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, till September 30. Lila Poudel, the EIA expert of the company, said that they are working in the field intending to complete the work of EIA within the time limit. He said, “Interaction is taking place in the affected areas of the project. Discussions are being held on target groups, community forest users, affected tolls. The EIA document is ready within the stipulated time.
After the EIA report is approved by the Ministry of Forests, the work of land acquisition and resource assurance will be done, said Mayor Subedi. As the construction site of the park is located in the Chure area, the acquisition of land requires approval from President Chure-Terai Madhes Conservation and Development Committee and the Ministry of Forests.
Why Buddhamurti Park?
According to the Butwal Sub-Metropolis, Buddhamurti Park can be a means to bring tourists to Lumbini. According to Mayor Subedi, Buddha and Lumbini are historical capital that can be 'cached' in terms of tourism and the historicity of Butwal is directly linked to Lumbini.
'Historical capital has been marketed by other countries in different ways. In the same way, they have made a leap forward financially, 'he said.He argues that placing a Buddha statue here will increase the relevance of the hill park hill, just 45 degrees east-northeast of Lumbini.
This is becoming Buddhamurti Park
According to the detailed project report, there is a plan to build a park with Buddha statues in the hill park, which is visible from Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, 42 km southwest of Butwal. It is estimated to cost a total of Rs 1.14 billion.
According to the report, the park will be constructed in four blocks.
Buddha statue will be built in the first block. A 35-meter high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha will be erected on a 7.8-meter circular base structure. The Buddha will be sitting on a half-lotus in a ground-touching posture. The surface of the statue will be made of copper with a thickness of 3 mm. Gold will be applied to the face. The rest of the body will be painted golden 'epoxy'. The DPR also gives the option of applying gold all over the body.
The golden-painted Buddha will be returning to the Mayadevi temple, about 40 kilometres southwest. According to the report, the estimated cost of the Buddha statue is Rs. 868.09 million.
In the second block of the park, a three-storey 'Monk Residence' will be built. Its estimated cost is Rs. 367.34 million.
A one-storey cafeteria will be built in the third block of the park and a one-storey toilet in the fourth. The estimated cost of these two structures is Rs. 67,14,643 and Rs. 32,58,188 respectively.
Apart from this, telecommunication, sanitation and sewerage system, water supply and other structures will be constructed in the park at an estimated cost of Rs. 489.1 million.
The sub-metropolitan government estimates that more than 2,000 people will visit the hill park daily, including visitors who come for regular worship, meditation and observation after the construction of the Buddhamurti Park are completed.
