Thanks to CK Lal for covering Tikapur in his regular column (Nothing to do in Tikapur, #64). During my three years stay at the adjoining bazaar of Rajapur, Bardiya, my family of three were regular visitors of the Bangla garden. It is a well-known picnic spot for people from Nepalgunj, Mahendranagar and Surkhet. Mismanagement, over staffing and politicisation are the three legs of a dangerous tripod that prohibits the progress of the park. People of Tikapur are still recalling the dedication made by late Khadga Bahadur Singh. His untimely demise was a tragedy. As indicated by Lal, Tikapur could become the education hub of mid and Far-western Nepal because it has already a well developed infrastructure. Tikapur, like the rest of Nepal, needs sound management and depoliticisation. The road linking Tikapur garden from the Mahendra Highway at Lamki should be black-topped. The garden should be divided into different parts and a part should be developed as mini-zoo to attract domestic tourists.

Prakash Kafle
by email