JUMLA, Jan 2: The 10-year master plan prepared by Jumla Social Development Center in 2008 for the developing Sinja valley in Jumla district into a tourist destination has been limited to papers alone. The draft which was handed to the District Development Committee has been gathering dust.
The lack of interest shown by the District Coordination Committee to execute the master plan even when the country has kick started the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign has adversely affected Sinja's tourism sector.
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The master plan focused on tourism-friendly infrastructures as well as tourism-friendly behavior.
“Due to the lack of implementation of the master plan, it has been difficult to attract tourists in Sinja. Neither tourism-friendly infrastructures nor positive attitude towards tourists have been developed here,” said Bhakta Bahadhur Bogati, chairman of Jumla Social Development Center.
In the master plan proposes development of 304 infrastructures. Though the plan was to be executed between 2012 to 2022, neither the local level nor other concerned agencies have given priority to the plan. Rather, each local unit is giving importance to their own plans.
The master plan proposes four-lane road, management of temples that are neglected, setting up a museum, establishing college with post-graduate degree, opening a hospital for treatment of tourists, among others.
Some of the landmark sites of Sinja include Kanka Sundari Temple, Birat Durbar, Ban Ganga Temple which are utterly neglected. The locals believe these could be used to attract tourists but the authorities have turned a blind eye to their plea.
