The cable car project has become uncertain after lawmakers of Kaski supported tourism entrepreneurs and locals who are already protesting against the project.Speaking at a program organized by 'Save Basundhara Park Committee' in Pokhara on Monday, lawmakers of Kaski said the decision to allow construction of cable car station at Basundhara Park has to be revoked.
"A suitable option for cable car station has to be searched as the park is one of the tourism attractions of Pokhara," lawmaker Adhikari said. Adhikari, who is also chairman of Development Committee of legislature-parliament, added that Basundhara Park should be developed as a recreational park.
Another lawmaker Kumar Khadka said that all should be united to oppose construction of cable car station at Basundhara Park. "Government is preparing policy regarding public properties and such properties cannot be miss-utilized," Khadka said.
Other lawmakers like Adhikari and Khadka also suggested searching other alternatives to build cable car station.
The government on March 31 allowed Manakamana Darshan (P) Ltd prepared detailed project report (DPR) of the 1.3-kilometer cable car service between Phewa Lake and World Peace Stupa in Pumdi Bhumdi VDC. The company is investing Rs 1.3 billion in the project. Besides Manakamana Darshan, Chitwan Co-E and Doppelmayr of Austria are also involved in the project.
Basundhara Park is spread over 108 ropani on the bank of Phewa Lake. The park is owned by Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee.
Though the developers had started construction works about one and half years ago, it was halted after a writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court. The developers had resumed work after the apex court quashed the petition in the last week of January.
As per the agreement with government, the project will be developed as per the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. The developer will have to complete the project within two years. Ownership of the company will have to be handed over to the government after 20 years.
Bindu Kumar Thapa, president of Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said importance of open spaces like Basundhara Park has increased after the earthquake of April 25. Similarly, Som Thapa, president of Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), said that private companies should not be allowed to use public property. "We need cable car service to promote tourism in Pokhara. But public property should not misused," he added.
Most of the big events in Pokhara are organized in Basundhara Park.
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