Lumbini: “Failure to Win Local Support”

Despite adequate resources, sound planning and enthusiasm, development cannot be successfully carried out without public participation and awareness, understanding between the locals and development authorities, and long-term consistent policies of the government. This is what the Lumbini experience has demonstrated..The Master Plan for the development of Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha, who propagated the message of universal peace some 2,500 years ago, is gradually being implemented in three square miles of the Terai. Although the accommodation for pilgrims, a museum, and a library were completed three years after the Lumbini Development Trust was established in 1985, Project Manager Diwakar Pant is not happy. "We could have achieved more only if we had received support from the locals and His Majesty's Government through timely, consistent and enlightened policies," said Pant..In a country like Nepal, where social norms are all-important, support must be sought before carrying out development plans. Because of a failure to solicit such support, locals had expressed their dissatisfaction through violence and sabotage, according to Pant. He said some unidentified, technically adept locals had stolen the copper coil inside a 500 kilowatt transformer by unscrewing more than 200 nuts and bolts in one night. The transformer was set up at the power-house on behalf of the Hokke Club of Japan, which has plans for a four-star hotel in Lumbini. "They do not dare to leave window frames, glass sheets or even bricks outside," Pant said. As evidence he pointed to the bare windows of the power house and a damaged portion of a culvert..Why do the villagers resent a project that is globally applauded? "First, about 80 percent of the villagers here are Muslims and they are not concerned about any Buddhist development. Second, they claim that they are not employed by the development project, even though they do not actively seek jobs. Third, they resent being evicted from 13 kilometers of land for the Project," said Pant. "But they don't think about the numerous advantages that will eventually come from the development of Lumbini," he said, with a sigh. "Tolerance is lacking here.".Hiralal Halawai, 60, who lives half a kilometre from the Mayadevi temple, was one person evicted from his inherited house just in front of the temple. Even though he was paid NRs. 10,000 for land that was worth NRs 100,000, Halawai said he harbored no anger towards the government. "It all belongs to the Government, so what if they take it? I am not angry. In fact I feel that I have contributed my assets to the Rupandehi Mayadevi.".Pant said that the Project would have been far better supported by the public if Lumbini had been in Eastern Nepal. "People there are more aware than those in the West.".Pant expressed fears that vandals may even destroy the Ashokan Pillar, the sole evidence of the birth of Shakyamuni in Lumbini. He felt that better security measures had to be taken in Lumbini. At present, 18 unarmed security guards protect the entire project area. The Trust recently sought permission for two rifles and some khukuris to be provided to the guards on night-shift..Asked why the Trust has failed to initiate programmes to create greater public awareness about the positive aspects of the Project, Pant said, "Periodically, we call them and explain the benefits of the Project, but the fundamentalist Muslims are not easily persuaded.".In criticising the ever-changing policies of the Government of Nepal, Pant said that an agreement was signed between the Trust and the Hokke Club about two years ago for the construction of a four-star hotel that would be fully financed by the Club. But the hotel has not been built because the Industrial Policy Act of HMG did not permit foreign investment in such a project to exceed 80 percent..According to Pant, the proposed hotel would bring more tourists, particularly Japanese, who would be interested in visiting the birthplace of the Buddha. The present lack of basic facilities deters many. The Project has one Japanese and three English speaking guides, but the information office reported that only 15 to 30 tourists (excluding Indian nationals) visit the temple each day. Explaining the technical details of the proposed hotel, an engineer at the Project site, Gopal Manandhar, said that the two-storey building would cover a total area of 160 square metres with 50 rooms, though only 25 will be constructed initially..The Master Plan has allotted one square mile each to the Sacred Garden, the New Lumbini Village for accommodation of staff, and a Monastic Zone cum Cultural Centre around Mayadevi Temple. In the Monastic Zone, 41 countries would be allowed to build monastic enclaves in their national style. About 60 to 70 percent of the total land allotted will be reforested to enhance the natural environment of Lumbini. More than 600,000 plants have already been planted within the Project area. The Trust set up its own plant-nursery, under the supervision of Masayoshi Kawaguchi, a Japanese landscape engineer volunteering for the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA). Kawaguchi, who has been at Lumbini for a year, said that the nursery would be the foundation of the landscaping, and that it would be the best in Nepal..Sichendra Bista is a reporter for UNI in Nepal.