A DETAILED PROJECT REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT OF FUN PARKS AND ECOTOURISM (PEOPLES PARK) AT BIRENDRA NAGAR VDC, CHITWAN, NEPAL

CONSULTANT CLIENT
Paschimanchal Consult Pvt. Ltd. Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu Nepal PEOPLES PARK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BIRENDRA NAGAR VDC-9, CHITWAN, NEPAL

Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 1.1 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................1 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF PEOPLES PARK, BIRENDRANAGAR ........................................1 1.3 PROJECT AREA .............................................................................................................2 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................4 PROJECT FEATURES..............................................................................................................4 2.1 PROPOSED PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURES ..........................................................4 2.2 BRIEF INFORMATION OF DIFFERENT BLOCKS ....................................................4 CHAPTER THREE....................................................................................................................6 BOTANIC GARDEN ................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................9 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ............................................................................................9 CHAPTER FIVE......................................................................................................................10 TENTATIVE COSTE ESTIMATES .......................................................................................10 CHAPTER SIX ........................................................................................................................12 DRAWINGS ............................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER SEVEN..................................................................................................................13 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................13

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND

Fun Park development with promotion of ecotourism by local community level is new concept in Nepal and is growing in popularity along with generating considerable economic impact. However the concept of ecotourism is not new and there are many communities who have explored the resources that they have and are able to use it to the fullest. Ecotourism aspires to achieve sustainable development results. That is, it's planning and development of infrastructure, its operation and also its marketing should focus on environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability criteria. Eco-tourism can be defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people (TIES, 1990). It has the potential of integrating rural development, tourism, resource management and conservation. Major benefits that can be obtained from eco-tourism are as follows: Conservation: Offering market-linked long-term solutions, ecotourism provides effective economic incentives for conserving and enhancing bio-cultural diversity and helps protect the natural and cultural heritage of our beautiful planet. Communities: By increasing local capacity building and employment opportunities, ecotourism is an effective vehicle for empowering local communities around the world to fight against poverty and to achieve sustainable development. Interpretation: With an emphasis on enriching personal experiences and environmental awareness through interpretation, ecotourism promotes greater understanding and appreciation for nature, local society, and culture. Fun Park or amusement park or theme park is a group of entertainment attractions, rides, and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people. An amusement park is more elaborate than a simple city park or playground, usually providing attractions meant to cater specifically to certain age groups, as well as some that are aimed towards all ages. Theme parks, a specific type of amusement park, are usually much more intricately themed to a certain subject or group of subjects than normal amusement parks. The community of Birendranagar VDC is seeking to modify the forested area and some barren area on the northern part of the VDC to develop a fun park cum ecotourism area viz Peoples Park, Birendranagar.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF PEOPLES PARK, BIRENDRANAGAR

Major objectives of the Peoples Park, Birendranagar is to develop Fun Park cum ecotourism place. Specific objectives are as follows

Business Practices: Peoples Park, Birendranagar aims to support the development of exemplary ecotourism products by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and funding to communities, entrepreneurs, and partners Engagement of Communities: Peoples park, Birendranagar emphasize understanding community approaches toward tourism, as well as the underlying conservation, capacity, social, political, and economic issues. Capacity Building and Training: Peoples Park works to improve the capacity of field practitioners and program managers to design and implement ecotourism programs that truly address conservation issues and that create needed jobs and income opportunities. Conservation and Protection: Peoples Park aims to conserve the forest area through establishment of botanic garden, plantation and maintaining greenery. Similarly it will protect wetland and ethnic communities promoting their cultural activities. Knowledge Sharing and Learning: Peoples Park aims to coordinates information exchange network among regional ecotourism specialists as it gathers and spread knowledge from ecotourism experience.

1.3 PROJECT AREA

The park lies in northern part of Birendranagar VDC between 2739'4.20"N 8436'13.05"E to 2738'17.86"N 8436'10.26"E and 2738'48.98"N 8436'40.18"E to 2738'47.61"N 8435'40.33"E. The area comprises mainly forest area (Amrit Dharapani Community Forest), barren lands and wetlands. The location map of the project area is given below in Fig 1.

Fig 1: Project area in Google Map The project area is near Ratnagar and Narayanghat hence aims to attract people from these areas for site seeing, picnic, recreation, games, gym, swimming, meditation etc. The area is also near Sauraha, one of the most visited tourist area and the elevation is higher than 2

Sauraha creating cooler environment for stay. Hence the project expects to attract people visiting Sauraha for night stay too. The project area comprises of wetlands and the project aims to conserve this wetland too. There is Chepang community and other ethnic communities near the project area and hence the project also aims to conserve these communities and promote their cultural, religious and traditional activities through cultural displays.

CHAPTER TWO PROJECT FEATURES 2.1 PROPOSED PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURES

The project comprises of different features like parking area, counter, restaurant, resort, children park, picnic spots, botanic garden, wetland, swimming pool, view tower etc. Three major areas have been identified for construction and park development activities and general layouts have been prepared. These three areas have been further divided into five blocks viz. A, B, C, D and E. Drawings and key plan of these infrastructures are given in chapter four.

2.2 BRIEF INFORMATION OF DIFFERENT BLOCKS

Block A consists of major area covering in total 35,193.55 sq m. Two entrance gates have been designed; one for general entrance which leads to parking area and ticket counter and the next one for allowing people with ticket inside the fun park. This area is designed with 13 picnic spots and separate children play ground. These spots will be provided with electricity and water facility, sheds, toilets and other features necessary for picnic spots. For aesthetic pleasure, just after 2nd entrance, water fountain is designed. There will be different cultural buildings with historic archeological ascent. Block A also contains area for developing botanic garden along with sufficient space for greenery and path way. This botanic garden will be developed so as to demonstrate different trees, herbs, flowers, orchids etc. for recreational as well as educational propose. This block also contains wetland (existing) and the layouts have been prepared to preserve this wetland too. Restaurants and resorts are also designed within this block. Block B consists of stairway to view tower. The entrance gate is located at an elevation below 229 m amsl and view tower is located at an elevation above 327 m amsl. Hence there is vertical different of 98 m between entry to view tower. 453 m long and 3 m width stairway have been designed. The stairway has been designed in artistic way along with providing easy access to view tower. Sufficient greenery along with trees have been designed along the path way. Block C covers total area of 2201.44 sq m and consists of view tower, small pond and temple. Two storied view tower have been designed. 1st story will be 4.57 m tall with capacity for 15 to 20 people. 2nd storey will be 9.14 m tall (from ground) and with capacity for only 3 to 4 people. This storey will also contain binoculars for site seeing. Greenery will be maintained all over block B and this block will also contain toilets with urinals, separate for male and female. Sufficient greenery along with trees and pathways has been designed in this block. Block D is designed for stadium purpose and covers total area of 42933.79 sq m. Football, Basketball, Table Tennis and Volleyball courts have been designed within this block along with toilets and coffee shop. Sufficient greenery along with trees and pathways has been designed in this block. 4

Block E covers total area of 14174.56 sq m and is designed especially for swimming pool purpose. Beside swimming pool, Gym hall, meditation hall, baths (e.g. sauna), changing room and toilets area also designed within this block. This block will also contain a coffee shop. Sufficient greenery along with trees and pathways has been designed in this block.

CHAPTER THREE BOTANIC GARDEN

Parks in urban and rural areas provide many ecosystem services. Parks and gardens can also serve as a link between botanical research and public Awareness of the importance of plants. Gardens provide a convenient visual image or the beauty aid value of plants. Parks are not only important as an educational resource, but also for its conservation and recreation value. Parks and gardens contribute for the maintenance of diversity of animal and plant species, maintenance of water quality, and as a valuable recreational resource for the community. They are used to improve a persons potential by providing them with facilities, services, and programs that meet the emotional, social, and physical needs of a community. Gardens and parks contain natural as well as planted plant species. Native as well as some ornamental plants provide more attraction to visitors. Maintaining variety of species in parks provide diverse knowledge to students and also it helps in biodiversity conservation. List of trees in tropical and lower subtropical regions Latin name Local name Khayer Acacia catechu Karam Adina cordifolia Pahade siris Albizia julibrissin Kumbhi Careya arborea Dhale katush Castanopsis indica Musure katush Castanopsis tribuloides Kyamuna Cleistocalyx operculatus Sissoo Dalbergia sissoo Tatari Dillenia pentagina Odhane Duabanga grandiflora Dabdabe Garuga pinnata Dudhekhirro Holarrhena pubescens Botdhairo Lagerstroemia parviflora Dabdabe Lannea coromandelica Kutmero Litsea monopetala Bilaune Maesa chisia Sindure Mallotus philippensis Asare Murraya koenenghii Mussanenda macrophylla Dhobini Putali Neolitsea umbrosa Amala Phyllanthus emblica Chilaune Sapium insigne Khayer Schima wallichi Kusum Schlleichera oleosa Semecarpus anacardium Bhalayo Sal Shorea robusta 6

Spathobolus parviflorus Spondias pinnata Swida oblonga Syzygium cumini

Tectona grandis
Terminalia alata Trewia nudiflora Wendlandia puberula

Madane, sal lahara Amaro Latikath Jamun Teak Saj Vellor Kainyu

Plants with bright flowers and edible fruits Latin Name Butea monosperma Bombax ceiba Delonix regia Local Name Palans Simal Gulmohar Raj brikshe Cassia fistula Artocarpus heterophyllus Katahar Artocarpus lackoocha Badahar Azadiracta indica Neem Zizyphus nummularia Bayer Annona squamosa Sharipha/Sitaphal Morus alba Kimbu Bel Aegle marmelos Saraca asoka Ashok Mangifera indica Mango Chyuri Aesandra butyraceae Ficus benjamina Sami Barro Terminalia bellerica Haro Terminalia chebula Bayer Zizyphus sp. Useful shrubs and herbs Latin Name Achyanthus aspera Asparagus racemosus Pogostemon benghalensis Nyctanthes- arbortristis Colebrookia oppositifolia Vitex negundo Phoenix humilis Saccharum banghalense Saccharum spontaneum Thysanolaena maxima Eulaliopsis binnata
Woodfordia fruticosa Xeromphis spinosa

Local Name Datiwan Kurilo Rudhilo Parijat Dhurseli Simali Thakal Baruwa Kans Amriso Babiyo Dhairo Mainkanda 7

Mimosa pudica
Justicia adhatoda

Lajjavati Asuro

CHAPTER FOUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Chitwan District lies in Central Development Region, Narayani Zone. As per population census data 2011, total population of this district is 579,984 within 132,462 households (total population in 1981: 259,571, 1991: 354,488, 2001: 472,048 and 2011: 579,984). This data show that population in this district is increasing rapidly. Narayanghad, Bharatpur and Ratnanagar are major urban areas in this district and other areas are also urbanizing along with time. Major economic activity is this district is agriculture. Total agricultural land in 1986 was 56737.19 ha and in 2010, it increased to 61952.47 ha. Major cereal crops cultivated in this district are paddy, maize, millet, wheat and barley. Similarly major cash crops cultivated are oil seed, potato and sugarcane. Lentil, chick pea, pigeon pea, back gram and grass pea are major pulses grown in this district. This district is also famous for livestock rearing. Hindu is the major religion of the district covering 81.4% of total population followed by Buddhism (13.02%), Christianity (3.39%), Islam (1.16%), Prakriti (0.65%). Remaining people belong to Kirat, Bon, Sikhism and undefined religion group. Literacy rate of the district is 77%. There are 521 primary schools, 283 lower secondary schools, 196 secondary schools, 82 higher secondary schools, 20 Tribhuvan University affiliated campuses and 2 constituent campuses under TU. Chitwan district is also a famous tourist attracting place due to Chitwan National Park and bank of Rapti River. Chitwan National Park has long been regarded as Nepal's third biggest attraction after trekking and the Kathmandu Valley. This huge and beautiful nature reserve protects 932 sq km of sal forest, water marshes and rippling grassland. The park is one of the last refuges of the endangered one-horned Indian rhino and there are sizeable populations of tigers, leopards and rare Gangetic dolphins. Beside these, there are no major recreational areas in this district. Along with urbanization, demand on recreational parks, game courts and picnic spots increases. Similarly botanic gardens for students for identification of valuable species are found necessary not only in Chitwan District but also at national level. This project aims to fulfill this gap.

CHAPTER FIVE TENTATIVE COSTE ESTIMATES

Sn 1

Description Total Site area i) "A" Site (Main area with different facilities) ii) "B" Site ( Stair Area) iii) "C" Site (proposed View Tower area) iv) "D" Site (Proposed pla Grourds) v) "E" Site ( Proposed recration area) Total proposed site area

Nos. 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

Quantity 35193.55 1360.00 2201.44 42933.79 14174.56 95863.34

Units

Unit Rate

Amounts

1 2 A i ii iii iv vii vi vii vii i ix x xi

Tentative Site preparation cost Proposed physical infrastructures Proposed Area "A" (main area with different infrastructure) Inquary /office and ticketing Building Parking Space Cutural Buildings with gallery/ party place / hall Resorts Resturant picnic sheds Publics toilets Botanical Gardens Small artificial wet land exiting wet land pathway and greenary area with children park and circulation

1.00

95863.34

Sqm

26.9

2,578,723.85

35193.55 total total total total total total total total total total total 42.16 3563.24 5521.40 424.30 263.16 637.00 49.01 3588.00 1267.32 2277.00 18148.96

Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm 7532.00 930.00 5649.00 13450.00 12450.00 4035.00 7500.00 484.20 400.00 22.00 914.60 317549.12 3313813.20 31190388.60 5706835.00 3276342.00 2570295.00 367575.00 1737309.60 506928.00 50094.00 16599038.82 65,636,168.34

B i

Proposed Area B Stair way total

1360.00 1360.00 1560.00 2121600.00 2,121,600.00

C i ii iii iv v

Proposed Area C (Temple and View tower) Temple area Toilet area view tower area Water reserviar Greeanry, pathway, and other circulation total total total total total

2201.44 100.00 34.78 32.00 100.00 2009.66

Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm cum Sqm 23600.00 7500.00 118300.00 13000.00 914.60 2360000.00 260850.00 3785600.00 1300000.00 1838035.04 9,544,485.04

D i

Proposed Area D (Playing area) Basket ball court total

42933.79 1688.00

Sqm Sqm 1670.00 2818960.00

10

Sn ii iii iv v

Description Table tenis court Football with platform changing room with toilet Greenary, pathway, circulation etc.

Nos. total total total total

Quantity 1643.00 8673.00 66.59 30863.20

Units Sqm Sqm Sqm Sqm

Unit Rate 1670.00 830.00 11250.00 914.60

Amounts 2743810.00 7198590.00 749137.50 28227482.72 41,737,980.22

E i ii iii iv v vi

Proposed Area E (re-creation area) Meditation Hall Gym Hall Swimming Pool Coffee Shop toilet/bath/changing room greenary, pathway and circulation all other total total total total total total

14174.56 548.00 548.00 172.00 55.52 117.14 12733.90 sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm 11836.00 11836.00 7695.00 7500.00 10212.50 914.60 6486128.00 6486128.00 1323540.00 416400.00 1196292.25 11646424.94 27,554,913.19

Total cost 1 Fencing works tentative total 2392.00 rm 325.00

149,173,870.63 777,400.00 149,951,270.63 149951270.63 7497563.53 157,448,834.16

Tentative Total Amounts Electrification and water supply / dranage/ etc works total 5% %

Grand Total Amounts

In words without VAT and other taxes NRs. Fifteen Crore Seventy Four Lakhs Forty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Four and Sixteen Paisa.

11

CHAPTER SIX DRAWINGS

12

CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSION

Tentative cost of the project is estimated to be NRs. 157448834. Considering this amount, initiation of VDC officials, awareness of local people, tourism development of the nation, location and nature of the site, accessibility of the site, growing population of the area etc. this project is viable and feasible. For the construction of the project, it seems it is difficult for VDC alone to complete the project due to high budget. For this case, either VDC can approach different donor agencies or can go for Private-Public Partnership model. The cost estimation in this report is tentative and for exact cost, in-depth design and drafting of the each infrastructure of the project is necessary.

13