Patna, Jan. 3: An ambitious plan for comprehensive development of a heritage zone in Vaishali district has been gathering dust for the past two years.

Conceived by the state tourism department in 2010, the project has been awaiting clearance from the central government. The tourism department is now blaming the delay on Delhi’s “lackadaisical attitude”.

The project has been planned on the lines of development of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh. The expected outlay for this project — Rs 125 crore — is to be funded by the central government.

The project outlines a core area of 600 acres in Vaishali and suggests measures for its holistic development over a period of 10 years. The suggested measures include development of a monastery zone in over 100 acres, a museum, a library, a conference hall, three to four-star tourist resorts/hotels, green areas and public parks. It also envisages developing street connectivity and road network.

“Considering the historical significance of Vaishali and its tourism potential, the department had prepared a comprehensive plan of developing the entire region as one of the main anchors of Buddhist circuit in the state. Although the proposal was sent to the Union tourism ministry in 2010, a respective approval is still awaited. Delhi has turned a blind eye to Bihar. Not just the Vaishali tourism development project, the Union ministry is sitting on many other centrally sponsored tourism proposals of Bihar. I am planning to meet the Union tourism minister after January 24 and request him to clear the project at the earliest,” said Sunil Kumar ‘Pintu’, state tourism minister.

Historians are also concerned over the lack of development in the Vaishali region. “Vaishali enjoys multi-religious significance. Apart from Hindu mythology, it figures both in Jain and Buddhist literature. Lord Buddha visited Vaishali several times. The second Buddhist council was held in Vaishali 100 years after Buddha attained nirvana,” said Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, director of K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna.

Chaudhary added: “Both Vaishali and Sarnath have Asokan pillars and Buddhist stupas but while Sarnath is a developed region, Vaishali is still awaiting attention.”

Vaishali is located around 55km from Patna and 150km from Gaya airport. “Patna lies between Vaishali and Gaya so if the Vaishali development project is executed, the Buddhist circuit in the state would be complete. Also, Vaishali’s proximity to Patna would prove beneficial for the latter in generating income through hospitality and tourism sector,” a tourism department official said.