Minister Bhattarai initiates sapling plantation at Kailashdanda

Kathmandu - Two hundred saplings of several species of plants with religious association have been planted at Kailashdanda of the Pashupati area today. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, initiated the sapling planting programme. The saplings of Sami, Kapur, Rudrakshya, Asare species, among others, were planted in the open spaces at Kailashdanda.

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) had built a wall this year for the protection of Kailashdanda as it envisages to develop the area into an attractive park. PADT has continued with the campaign of planting saplings of various species of trees and plants having religious association since last year by announcing that it would plant 5,000 such saplings in the Pashupati area.

Also today, Minister Bhattarai inaugurated the main gate built towards the southern edge of Pashupati area near the Ring Road. This gate has been constructed by Nepal SBI Bank at an investment of Rs 30 million as part of its corporate social responsibility. Addressing the programme, Minister Bhattarai said although there is adverse situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, all sectors could not be closed always.

He shared that preparations are being made for operating trade, business and enterprises including the public transport by maintaining social distancing. The minister opined that a lot needed to be done for providing minimum services to the pilgrims and devotees visiting the temple. He urged the PADT to work vigorously to establish the significance of Pashupati among the people across the world adhering to the Vedic Sanatana Hindu faith.

Secretary at the Ministry, Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, said the business houses and institutions should also pay attention to carrying out works under their corporate social responsibility in other religious sites of the country as well. PADT member-secretary Dr Pradip Dhakal said the Pashupati area is being developed into a venue for practising meditation and yoga, and a place of religious learning.

He said the Trust is engaged in the campaign of establishing the identity of Pashupati area as an attractive place for spiritualism and religion to draw a large number of religious tourists from across the globe. Nepal SBI Bank Ltd's managing director and CEO, Anukul Bhatnakar said the Bank would carry out several other works and activities in partnership with PADT. On the occasion, he also handed over a broomer machine costing Rs 2.5 million for cleaning around the Pashupati area.