August 1, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Nepal: holy site flood fear

LONDON, August 1, Graphic News: Nepal has formally asked India to halt the construction of the controversial Rassiyal-Khurda-Lautan dam that threatens to flood BuddhaÕs birthplace.

Four months ago, India began building the barrage across the Danav River, just 655 feet (200 metres) from the Nepal-India border south of Lumbini.

Lumbini, 170 miles southwest of NepalÕs capital of Kathmandu, is where Lord Buddha was said to have been born more than 26 centuries ago as Gautama Siddhartha. UNESCO has recognised Lumbini as BuddhaÕs birthplace -- describing the site as one of the holiest places for one of the worldÕs great religions --  and declared the area a World Heritage Site.

India has long claimed the birthplace is in India, but archeologists in 1996 found a commemorative pillar, put at Lumbini by Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249BC, marking the precise site in Nepal.
/ENDS
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters