Preparation on to open religious shrines from October 17: Minister Bhattarai

Taplejung: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, has said that preparation has been made to open religious shrines across the nation from October 17.

Talking to media persons at Suketar airport, Minister Bhattarai, who reached his hometown, Taplejung, today to inaugurate Border Outpost (BOP) at Olangchungola, said, “The government has made a preparation to open the religious and cultural sector, closed since long due to COVID-19, gradually.

He shared the proposal of opening the religious sector would be taken in next Cabinet meeting and it would be opened from October 17 gradually if the proposal was passed.

The Tourism Minister clarified that religious and cultural sites would be opened gradually from Dashain with health safety precautions at a time when the lockdown has adversely affected religious and cultural tourism.

Earlier this morning, Minister Bhattarai inaugurated the BOP at Olangchungola. On the occasion, he expressed the view that security challenges seen at border area with China would be reduced with the establishment of BOP.

Home Secretary Maheshwor Neupane, Inspector General of Police, Shailesh Thapa Chhetri, Inspector General of APF, Shailendra Khanal, were also present on the occasion.