August 10: The private sector has requested the government to make Janakpurdham one of the major destinations for religious tourism. The speakers during a discussion on 'The Meaning of Dhanusha - Social Transformation' demanded to make Janakpur a tourist city. The event was organized jointly by the Madhesh Province Chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) in coordination with New Business Age on Wednesday.

Tourism in Janakpur will thrive if all three tiers of government create a favourable environment at the Nepal-India border, said Ashok Kumar Temani, president of the Madhesh Province chapter of FNCCI.

He added that if the federal, state and local governments promote the agricultural sector, Nepal can be self-sufficient in food. 

Madan Lamsal, chairman and editor-in-chief of New Business Age, said that although Madhesh Province is ahead in terms of economic potential, the opportunities have not been utilized. Lamsal also said that if the potential of Madhesh can be utilized, it will help to uplift the country's economy.

Jitendra Mahaseth, president of the Janakpurdham Industry and Commerce Association, said that developing Janakpurdham as a religious tourism zone will help in sustaining the local economy. He said that it is unfortunate that there is no international airport in Janakpurdham although it is a major religious, economic and commercial area.

He commented that even though the youths who went abroad from Dhanusha send millions of remittances every year, the government has not been able to come up with a concrete program to create jobs at the local level.

During the program, former president of the Janakpurdham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shivshankar Sah said that the shrine of Muslim religious guru Shere Nepal in Lohnama of Dhanusha and Rouja shrine of Mahottari should be developed as religious tourism areas for Muslims. He hoped that this would increase the arrival of Muslim tourists as well. He alleged that the state has always neglected the Janaki temple and religious places in Janakpur.

Nirmal Chaudhary, the former president of the Janakpurdham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pointed out the need to connect the Janakpur-Jatahi 6-lane road in Dhanusha with Madhubani district of Bihar state in India. He said that it will take 150 km less to reach Kolkata port from Jatahi crossing than from other border points in Nepal.