Plan of development tourism projects in shadow

By Rajani Yogi, Surkhet, Sept 28: The planning of the development of the physical infrastructure project from all three tiers of the government is moving forward. However, due to the lack of prioritization, plans are not coming into implementation. 

Lately, there has been planning for the big development project, but, is not turning into implementation. The Rara- Murmatap cable car planning project in Mugu district, brought in the fiscal year 2077/78, is stalled. Even though it is listed in the federal and provincial plans and policies programmes, these are not in reality. 

The member of parliament and member of the Provincial Assembly, are demanding to fructify these plans.  Experts said that the government planned the cable car project without thorough investigation and study. The provincial government in the first plan and policies program and in the budget brought this plan, but, this plan is still to gain any momentum. 

The Rara- Murmatap cable car planning was initiated with the aim of promoting tourism in Karnali to attract tourists and gain financial momentum from it. 

Bishnu Kumar Bham, Mayor of the Chhayanath Rara Municipality, said that there is a need to ropeway Rara-Murmatap. He said that requests have been made for the construction of the cable car to the federal and provincial governments. There is a footway of five hours from Rara to Murmatap, the cap car would decrease the time to ten minutes. 

In the year 2018, on April 14, the Rara tourism year was started. The then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had made a promise to ropeway Rara and Murmatap. But, the hopes and dreams of the locals are yet to fructify.

This project plan is not included in the last few fiscal years. This area is taken as a tourist destination, but, few tourists have reached there, because of the tough terrain. One can see eight different district checkpoints from Murmatap. 

The concept of the cable car was pushed to promote tourism as one can observe Rara Lake from Murmatap, and from Rara Lake, sightseeing in the nearby villages can be done. Rara Lake is known as the largest lake and the biggest tourist destination in Karnali. 

Karnali Province is full of natural resources, but, the tough terrain makes it difficult for avid travellers to visit such places. Likewise, in the fiscal year 2077/78, the province had a target to ropeway from Surkhet to Siddhapaila.

These types of projects brought by the Provincial government are yet to fructify. Some of these projects are needed, but, some projects are added in the option of the project that is not implemented, leaving them unfulfilled. 

Locals said that less planning to promote tourism, lack of prioritization, lack of investment, and lack of necessary preliminary investigation, is the reason for the lack of implementation of such projects. Unable to prioritize the project plans, the infrastructure development plan is stalled.