Construction of 75-foot mother Nepal statue stalled in Kanchanpur due to budget shortage

Kanchanpur: The construction of the 75-foot Mother Nepal statue at Bhamkeni Dham in Churephed, Bhimdatta Municipality-8, Kanchanpur, has come to a halt due to insufficient funding.

Jagatguru Mohan Sharan Devacharya initiated the project eight years ago to symbolize all 75 former districts of Nepal. While he collected some metal and cash donations from the public, the statue remains incomplete due to a lack of government support.

“I had met most of the state leaders, including the Chief Minister, and requested a budget of Rs 30 million for the statue, but no support has been provided,” said Devacharya, stressing that the campaign is meant to unite the nation and requires collective support.

Valley Construction was awarded the Rs 108.1 million contract for the project in 2074 BS. Earlier, Devacharya had collected 22 tons of copper, brass, and other metals during his nationwide circumambulation from Baisakh 2072 BS to Magh 2074 BS, with locals contributing an additional three tons. However, despite starting construction with these resources, progress has stalled due to the budget gap.

Bhamkeni Dham has seen a surge in activity since Devacharya began organizing religious programs there. Locals report that the construction of the Nepal Mother statue has elevated the significance of the dham, attracting religious tourists from across the country. “This area has gained popularity since the Jagatguru started the statue project, and now visitors are coming even from Jhapa,” said local resident Mohan Dev Joshi.

The dham also holds deep historical and religious importance. According to legend, it was named Bhamka after water gushed forth when the Pandavas drew from a well during their exile, linking the area to the Mahabharata. Local resident Nirmala Bhatta noted that tanks representing all nine districts of the Far West Province have been constructed within the temple premises, further adding to its spiritual value.