Kanchanpur. Kanchanpur: A 75-feet-tall statue of Mother Nepal under construction at Bhamkeni Dham at Churefed of Bhimdutta Municipality-8 in Kanchanpur district has been stuck due to lack of budget.

Jagatguru Mohan Sharan Devacharya had started the construction of a 75-feet tall statue of Mother Nepal eight years ago. Jagatguru Mohan Sharan Devacharya collected some metals and cash from people’s donations for the construction of the statue, but the construction of the statue has not been completed due to lack of support from the state level.

Jagatguru Mohan Sharan Devacharya said, “I met most of the leaders of the state government, including the chief minister, and requested them to allocate Rs 30 million for the construction of the statue.” ’

He said that the statue is a campaign to connect the nation and everyone’s cooperation is needed for its completion. Valley Construction was awarded the contract for the construction of the statue at a cost of Rs 108.1 million in 2074 BS.

Jagatguru Mohan Sharan Devacharya had collected up to 22 tonnes of copper, brass and other metals during his right-hand circumambulation of Nepal from April 2072 to January 2074. Apart from this, the locals donated three tons of metal. Although the construction of the statue has started with this metal, the construction has not been completed due to lack of adequate budget.

Jagatguru Mohan Sharan Devacharya started performing religious activities at Bhamkeni Dham. Locals say that the importance of the dham has increased and religious tourists have started increasing after the construction of the statue of Mother Nepal started here.

Mohan Dev Joshi, a local, said, “This area has come into the limelight after Jagatguru came here and started making idols. It is believed that the history of this area is associated with the Mahabharata because the water came out of the wells of this area during the Pandavas’ exile.

“Since it is the land of Siddhabaijnath, its importance is very high, there is a legend that the Pandavas lived in this area. Nirmala Bhatta, a local, said that different ponds have been constructed in all the nine districts of the far-western state.