Annapurna Rural Municipality allocated 50 million for construction of tourism infrastructure

POKHARA, Sep 26:Fifty million rupees have been set aside in the current fiscal year 2023/24 for tourism-related activities and projects in Annapurna Rural Municipality. According to the rural municipality, funds have been set aside for the development of tourism infrastructure, as well as publicity and promotion.

Bharatkumar Pun, Chief of the Annapurna Rural Municipality, announced a Rs 50.9 million budget.

"Through tourism, the rural municipality has earned more than 13 million rupees in the current fiscal year," he stated. "2,699 tourists have visited the tourist spots of the rural municipality in July 17th to September 17th alone."

According to Chief Pun, the federal government has allocated a budget of Rs 20.5 million rupees, the rural municipality has allotted Rs 17.4 million rupees, and the province government has allocated Rs 13 million rupees. The construction of tourist infrastructure in Rupse Falls, which obtained a special grant from the federal government, has begun with a survey.

The rural municipality has budgeted an additional five -five million for infrastructure projects in Bhurung and Sekarku Tatopani, which obtained a conditional subsidy of five -five million from the federal government.

The rural municipality has allotted an additional amount of the Infrastructure Development Office has already signed a contract with the Gandaki State Government for the construction of a suspension bridge linking Poudhar Tatopani Kunda from Bhurung Tatopani at a cost of around Rs 10 million.

A deal has been made to improve infrastructure in Khopara Lake with Rs 1.5 million from the federal government and Rs 1.6 million from the rural municipality. The Gandaki state government has allotted an additional Rs 2 million to Khopara. Rs 1.5 million has been set aside for mapping the village's tourist attractions, Rs 1.5 million for the Annapurna base camp's tourism master plan, and Rs eight lakh for general tourism promotion campaigns.

Two lakh rupees have been set aside for the creation of tourist information booklets, while five lakh rupees have been set aside for the creation of information boards. Chief Pun stated that an additional budget of 7 million to 8 million rupees has been recommended from the remaining money to be allocated by the rural municipality for the road and infrastructure going to the Annapurna base camp.

Amrit Subedi, the rural municipality's chief administrative officer, stated that the rural municipality, which has given income contracts to Bhurung Tatopani, Paudwar Tatopani Kund, and Punhill, has raised more than Rs 1.3 million from hotels in tourist areas such as Khopra, Mohredanda, and Ghorepani.

Annapurna Rural Village Annapurna, Annapurna Circle, Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Ecological and Karwakeli Pathway include Mount Annapurna, Annapurna Base Camp, the deepest gorges in the world, Rupse waterfall, Ghodepani, Punhill, Mohredanda, Khopara, Karwakeli, Khairbharani Lake, Tatopani Kund.