Kathmandu, July 4
The 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan has expressed concerns over recent developments in Lumbini and called for a reduction in increasing industrial activity.
The meeting adopted the draft decision on the Lumbini, one of the four properties on the World Heritage List, prepared by the advisory bodies, without discussion. It calls on Nepal to invite a reactive monitoring mission to Lumbini the assess the situation on the ground as it has been 16 years since a UNESCO mission visited the area.
The text of the decision says that the committee regrets that Nepal did not provide any information on planned development projects in Lumbini such as the construction of a temporary meeting hall. It has also raised concerns over the proposed construction of the Shree Ram Cement Plant Ind. Pvt. Ltd located in the vicinity of Lumbini. Similarly, the committee has flagged the construction of a 5,000-person capacity Buddhist Meditation Hall within the Lumbini Kenzo Tange Master Plan Area.
The committee has urged”the State Party to immediately halt any construction work within the property until the potential impacts of these projects are fully assessed and suitable measures to avoid deterioration of the OUV (outstanding universal value) of the property are in place.”
