Lakhan Thapa Int'l Football Stadium construction in limbo

By Tilachan Pande, Tamghas, Dec. 9: Due to a lack of budget Gulmi's Lakhan Thapa International Football Stadium construction has been stranded.

The stadium is under construction since 2075 BS at Ishma Rural Municipality - 6, Amarpur's Bulm Chaur of Gulmi district.

For the wall construction Soil sorting and Bermuda Grass planting an agreement was done with Sunkoshi Abhiyan JV Kathmandu at a cost of Rs. 28,000,000 of National Sports Council in BS 2075 Chait.

After those tasks were completed within a year stadium construction has been halted from BS 2076 Chait. As a result, the area is being recognised as a vehicle driving practice place. 

Potholes are common in stadium areas these days, walls become damaged and Bermuda grass is replaced by other local grass species. 

A Detailed Project Report was prepared to construct 105 meters long and 68 meters wide stadium along with a covered hall and swimming pool at an estimated budget of about Rs. 1 billion.

National Sports Council, Construction Section's Technician Madhav Devkota informed that stadium construction has been stranded due to a lack of budget. 

He said that if the budget is available they will start further construction work otherwise they can do nothing in this regard. 

A local Om Bahadur Kumal, 66, has blamed the old renowned ground was demolished in the name of a stadium and after that without completing the construction ground made stranded.