Dear Sirs
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Buddha and World Heritage Site, is a treasure in terms of its religious, archaeological, historical and ecological significance.
At present, 11 cement factories, about 37 brick kilns and at least 15 additional industries, are operating within the Lumbini Protected Zone (LPZ) – an area that has been designated as a preserve around the sacred site.
The increasing pollution, environmental degradation, and growing amount of heavy traffic from these factories is destroying the spiritual peace, aesthetic value of the local area and archaeological ruins including endangering the life of the school children, international devotees, local people and the native flora and fauna.
I call upon the Government of Nepal to act swiftly and diligently to enforce its constitutional duty to protect citizen’s right to healthy environment and immediately stop and relocate all the industrial activities operated in and around Bhairhawa Airport to Lumbini corridor and vicinity.
I humbly request that the Government of Nepal and UNESCO:
(1) Request the relocation of all heavy carbon emitting industries in the LPZ to other appropriate sites immediately;
(2) Immediately declare the LPZ a culturally protected zone;
(3) Respect its international obligation to protect the world heritage site and the right of future generation and
(3) Commit sufficient resources to enable the LPZ transformation into a pastoral setting to restore respect for its community' health and safety, for its environment integrity and biodiversity, and for its spiritual, cultural and historic value for religious pilgrims and tourists.
I urge you to take the necessary actions to preserve Lumbini as an international symbol of peace and human integrity.
Sincerely,
