Lumbini, Gandaki Provinces make joint dev commitment

By Rekhiram Rana,Tansen, Feb. 13: Lumbini and Gandaki provinces have signed a 21-point joint commitment for strategic development.

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya and Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey signed the agreement to advance coordinated development in both provinces. 

The provincial-level coordination meeting was held on Wednesday at Ranighat Palace, a major tourist site in Palpa, where the two leaders finalised and formalised the commitment. The agreement aligns with the constitutional spirit of cooperative development between the two provinces.

The commitment includes plans for the expansion and upgrading of major roads in both provinces. The two governments have pledged to work towards expanding air services by introducing Nepalgunj-Jomsom and Bhairahawa-Jomsom flight routes.

The agreement also prioritises the implementation of the Gandaki Economic Triangle Project, linking Bharatpur, Butwal and Pokhara, to enhance economic activities in the region. Likewise, regional industrial zones will be established to promote local production and employment opportunities.

The agreement also stresses agriculture and tourism development. To support agricultural and livestock production, cold storage centres and food quality testing laboratories will be set up in Pokhara and Lumbini. 

Special programmes will be introduced to promote the hotel and hospitality industry. 

Similarly, both provinces plan to collaborate with the private sector to establish processing centres that will add value to locally produced agricultural goods and forest-based medicinal plants.

In the tourism sector, both provinces have agreed to develop integrated tourism programmes focused on natural, historical, cultural and religious sites. 

A master plan will be formulated to develop the Lumbini-Pokhara-Muktinath corridor as a key tourism route, connecting major destinations in both provinces.

Ethnic and cultural trekking routes will be expanded, including the Magar Cultural Tourism Trail, the Tharu-Awadha-Newar Trail and the Gurung-Thakali-Newar Tourism Route in Gandaki Province.

Industrial development and natural resource management are also key components of the agreement. The private sector will be encouraged to utilise under-construction industrial zones, such as the Motipur Industrial Zone in Butwal and the Lokaha Khola Industrial Zone in Gandaki Province. 

The commitment further includes provisions for the establishment, operation and expansion of mining and mineral industries, along with a standardized service fee structure for natural resource-based production.

To ensure uniform taxation policies, both provinces have agreed to harmonise taxes related to the use of river-based resources. The agreement states that a recommendation will be made to the federal government to regulate and increase water flow in the lower basin of the Kaligandaki Hydropower Project, from the dam site to Ranighat Palace.

The commitment reflects the shared vision of Lumbini and Gandaki provinces for sustainable economic growth, infrastructure development and environmental conservation. Both provincial governments have pledged to work together to implement these initiatives for the overall progress of the region.