To protect Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha, from air pollution, industries at surrounding area to be relocated

The Lumbini UNESCO World Heritage Site will now be protected from polluting industries operated in the surrounding area. Some cement plants and brick kilns that have been operated polluting the Buddhist pilgrimage site with archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha will have to remove as per the Supreme Court of Nepal ruling.

The ruling, which affects industries including cement, steel, and paper, aims to address environmental damage and preserve the religious significance of the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The court also prohibited further industrial expansion and capital enhancement within the stipulated area and directed the government to halt operations of high-emission industries within 15 kilometers of the Lumbini perimeter. 

The Supreme Court has issued a landmark directive to ensure the long-term cultural and environmental preservation of Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The order requires industries operating within the Lumbini area to either shut down or relocate within two years, directly impacting around 15 establishments, including Arghakhanchi Cement, Jagdamba Cement, Brij Cement, Ambe Steel, and Himal Snacks.

The SC ruling has banned new factories and heavy vehicles in the area and established a five-member panel to recommend measures for reducing pollution from existing factories. Nepal’s Industrial Promotion Board had prohibited factories within the “development area” in 2010 but the ban was not implemented.

A joint bench of Justices Kumar Regmi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel delivered the order on Wednesday in response to a writ petition filed by senior advocate Prakash Mani Sharma. The Court expressed grave concern over unregulated construction and pollution-emitting industries around the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It instructed the government to halt industrial operations that release emissions within 15 kilometers of the Lumbini perimeter.

Declaring Lumbini’s protection a matter of public interest for all humanity, the Court annulled past government decisions and implementations that contradicted conservation policies. It stressed that industries established before November 27, 2009, must also be prioritized for relocation, and prohibited any capital expansion, capacity enhancement, or alteration of objectives for existing companies.

“Lumbini cannot be replaced. While industries can be shifted, Lumbini has no alternative,” the Court stated. “Industries may generate employment and revenue, but Lumbini itself is a vast spiritual industry. Its contribution to the national economy through tourism cannot be compared with other industries.” The ruling is considered a historic step toward safeguarding Nepal’s cultural, environmental, and religious heritage, ensuring that Lumbini’s sanctity is preserved for future generations.