CHITWAN, Jan 23: The work of Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium which is under construction in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-15 has not progressed due to the non-payment of loans.

The Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation, run by artists Sitaram Kattel (Dhurmus) and Kunjana Ghimire (Suntali), stopped the construction of the stadium due to the lack of funds and the failure to pay back Rs 180 million in loans.

The Bharatpur metropolis has provided 20 bighas and 6 kathas of land, which was in the name of Tribhuvan University and was used by the Agriculture and Forestry University, for the construction of the stadium.

Renu Dahal, mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, said that the problem has surfaced because there is no clear legal provision on how to pay the excessive debt incurred during the construction of the stadium.

According to the agreement reached between Bharatpur Metropolitan City and the foundation on January 30, 2019, it was mentioned that the stadium would be handed over to the government immediately after its completion or if resources are not available.

Mayor Dahal said that there is a problem because the agreement papers do not mention who – the foundation or the metropolis – will bear the responsibility for the loan during the construction of the stadium. 

"The debt of the stadium has to be paid, a solution is being sought for this," she said. Mayor Dahal said that discussions are ongoing with the prime minister and minister of youth and sports, chief secretary of the Government of Nepal, and the secretary of the sports ministry regarding the progress of the construction works.

The federal government has allocated Rs 220 million for the construction of the stadium and the province government has allocated Rs 500 million, while the Bharatpur Metropolitan City has already spent Rs 800 million from its internal revenue. Dahal says that the work has come to a standstill due to the inability to find a way to pay off the debt incurred during the construction.

Stating that the construction of the stadium is the priority of the metropolis, she said that if there is no arrangement to pay the loan from the government’s side, the foundation will have to start another campaign to pay for it. Although the foundation was in charge of the construction, the capital was being mobilized by the Bharatpur Metropolitan City. When the foundation handed over the stadium to the metropolitan city, 35 percent of the work was completed.

 
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