08 Oct, 2020
Taplejung, Oct. 8: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai said Wednesday if things went as desired, religious shrines would open from next weekend for visitors.
The government is planning to open the temples and religious sites for visit, observation and pilgrimage starting Saturday, October 17.
“A proposal to open the religious sites from next Saturday will be presented at the Cabinet meeting,” he told journalists at Suketar Airport in the district. The Tourism Ministry is making preparation to table the proposal at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
But the religious sites can welcome the visitors only when the Cabinet endorses the proposal. Otherwise, the current restriction measures will remain in place. However, the visitors and pilgrims must follow the health safety protocols and only a limited number of people would be allowed in the temples.
According to Minister Bhattarai, he had consulted with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli regarding the proposal on Wednesday morning and the decision would depend on the deliberations in the Cabinet.
If the Cabinet endorsed the proposal, the safety protocols would be strictly implemented, and the number of visitors would be limited. A new working procedure would be formulated if required.
Minister Bhattarai expressed hope that if things went well, tourists would begin to visit the religious sites like Pathibhara soon.
Likewise, he said that Nepal Airlines Corporation was preparing to operate flights to the eastern district beginning October 17.
“Now the flights will also be operated on the Biratnagar-Taplejung route in addition to the existing Kathmandu-Taplejung route,” he said. The regional flights will help attract more tourists from the Terai as well as bordering Indian cities.
Similarly, the minister said that the government was closely monitoring the upgradation work at Suketar Airport to ensure it completes within the stipulated time.
He said the Tourism Ministry would ensure the availability of required budget for the construction works.
Minister Bhattarai was in the district to inaugurate a Border Outpost (BOP) in Olangchungola. Rising Nepal
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