The committee was formed to identify potential tourist areas in Rupandehi, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu districts and develop necessary infrastructures. A staffer of the committee told Republica that committee was becoming ineffective as the major chunk of the budget allocated to run its programs was being provided to cadres close to committee members.[break]
Nathu Chaudhary, newly elected president of the committee, said he had also received complaints about the committee´s programs not becoming effective. Chaudhary is close to UCPN (Maoist). Prior to his appointment to the post, Devi Chaudhary, who was appointed on the recommendations of the Madhesi People´s Right Forum (Democratic), was leading the committee.
Construction of a view tower in Devchuli and road to Trivenidham were the only works carried out in the fiscal year 2009/10, the staffer said. However, Rajan Rai, director of the committee, said the committee had disbursed Rs 12.9 million for more than two dozen programs during the year. The committee has allocated Rs 14.2 million for 46 projects in the current fiscal year.
“Hardly 12 of the programs are related to tourism development and promotion. Most of the programs are for maintenance and construction of temples and mosques,” he added.
President Chaudhary insisted that he would use the budget for tourism promotional and development works.
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