Lumbini Crane Conservation Center

A joint effort between Nepalese Crane Conservationists and International Crane Foundation, USA

 

Lumbini Stakeholders Consultation on Emerging Issues:

The issue: The Construction Project of the Giant Buddha Statue in the Kenzo Tange Lumbini Master Plan Area behind the Lumbini Peace Pagoda.

Raise by the two representatives of the Lumbini Institutions.
Venue: Hotel Kasai, Lumbini                                                              Date: 5th of August, 2010

Based on the news from the Himalayan Times newspaper and the Lumbini Development Trust the Government of Nepal has assented the major Chinese heavy investment of the construction of the Five- Star Hotel, the giant Buddha statue, library, several museums, research centre for the further development of Lumbini.

Nipponzan Myohoji organization of Shantistupa worldwide and the Lumbini Institutions are strongly opposing this construction of the Buddha statue at the north of the Shantistupa within the Master Plan Area.

We object to this construction project based on the following reasons:
At present when looking from the Sacred Garden to the north the view of Shantistupa, Peace Pagoda is most beautiful. If the giant Buddha statue were built it will not be beautiful anymore.

Also the entire Buddha statue cannot not be seen from the distance since the existing Shantistupa will cover half of the giant Buddha statue.

According to the Buddhist point of view in the Buddhist countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, etc. the pagoda and the Buddha statue are never built close to each other.

This combination of building of the Buddha statue at the back of the stupa (pagoda) will set a negative precedent for the future generations of architects.

Even though Shantistupa originally is not a component of the Kenzo Tange Master Plan yet it fits nicely as it goes together with the Peace Flame and the peaceful Crane and Birds Sanctuary.

The construction project of the giant Buddha statue which is one of the proposed Chinese investment projects is in a finalizing stage, it was recently mentioned by the Chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust.

However the proposed location of the construction,that is 480 metres by 480 metres behind the Shantistupa is a part of 203 plots leased for the Lumbini Crane and Birds Sanctuary 16 years ago.

The International Crane Foundation and the Lumbini Development Trust signed a lease hold-agreement on the 25th of November, 1994 with the validity of 50 years.

The endangered Sarus Cranes and the other bird and mammal species are inhabiting this area. One of the objectives of the establishment of this Lumbini Crane and Bird Sanctuary is to demonstrate the Buddha’s love for nature and the relevance of His Teachings for nature conservation.

In this regard we, the Lumbini Institutions would like to propose the authorities concerned and the concerned organizations to construct the giant Buddha statue in a place not within the Prof. Kenzo Tange Master Plan area, to choose a location that is not threatening the World Heritage status of Lumbini, not conflicting with the Nepal’s National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, and to respect and value the biodiversity richness of Lumbini.

We are sincerely raising this issue today after the official launch of the UNESCO project designed within the framework of the Prof. Kenzo Tange Master Plan to contribute to the protection and preservation of this unique site for the national and global community.

Chhatrapati 90, Kathmandu, Nepal
977-1-4252417, 977-71-580186
info@lumbinicrane.org