Rupandehi. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel visited the Siddhartha Cricket Stadium in Bhairahawa today.

Talking to media persons after visiting the stadium, he said the stadium would not face any shortage of budget as the government has given priority to the game of cricket.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said a budget of Rs 30 million has been allocated for siddhartha stadium this year and pledged that there would be no shortage of budget in the coming days. He said, “You should work for the development of sports with enthusiasm. This stadium is an important sports infrastructure in Lumbini Province. Start completing the unfinished work here. Financially, there is no problem. ”

Rupandehi Cricket Association President Hari Bahadur Thapa urged the government to include the stadium in a multi-year plan. He said that although Siddhartha Stadium is standard after Kathmandu, it is facing lack of budget in proportion to it.

Only 16 per cent of the stadium construction work has been completed in the last one and a half decades. Around Rs 120 million has been spent so far. Chairman Thapa complained that its construction could not be completed on time due to low budget.

Former President of Cricket Association, PrashantA Bikram Malla, said that construction of international standard ground was started in Bhairahawa and Mulpani in 2068 BS.

The NSC had put forward this plan with the objective of playing international cricket with parapet to accommodate 7,000 spectators. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was estimated to cost at least Rs 380 million at that time. However, it is estimated that it will cost at least Rs 700 million due to lack of timely work.