Bodh Gaya blue print prepared by Hudco on the basis of recommendations of Unesco stipulate complete ban on construction activity within a radius of 500 metres from the shrine.

GAYA: Officials and tour operators pin hope on promoting tourism and Buddhist pilgrimage through the three-day long international Buddhist conclave to promote tourism and Buddhist pilgrimage in the region. Delegates from 38 different countries including Japan and Korea will be participating in the event beginning September 26.

The conclave assumes more importance on account of the July 2013 serial blasts at the Mahabodhi temple, which adversely impacted the foreign tourist footfall. A market opposite the main shrine with nearly 60 shops catering to the requirements of foreign visitors had to be fully demolished for security reasons following the blasts and though, some of the shops have been relocated, traders complain of poor response from the visitors.

Bodh Gaya hoteliers too complain that whereas tourist inflow came down in season 2013-14, the mushroom growth of foreign monasteries with large guest houses have deprived the hotel industry of its genuine clientele. Interestingly, quite a few of the monasteries including the Bangladesh monastery was constructed in violation of land use as well as building laws and sometime back, cases were instituted against Bangladesh monastery officials for preventing the municipal officials from performing their duty as the local body wanted construction activity come to a halt due to violation of building laws.

Bodh Gaya blue print prepared by Hudco on the basis of recommendations of Unesco stipulate complete ban on construction activity within a radius of 500 metres from the shrine. The maximum permissible height of buildings within a radius of one km from the temple outer wall has been fixed at 3 metres, while those falling in the 1-2 km area from the main shrine can't go beyond 10 metres in height.

According to Gaya DM Sanjay Agrawal, the conclave will promote tourism as the conclave participants include opinion makers and other community leaders of their respective countries. All efforts are being made to make the guests feel comfortable at Bodh Gaya so that they may work as unofficial brand ambassadors of Bodh Gaya. [ The Times of India ]

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