Vientiane authorities plan to develop That Luang esplanade into one of the largest recreational parks in Laos by the end of 2009.
Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department Director, Mr Thongdam Xayphakatsa, yesterday said the Vietnamese government had agreed to provide US$5 million for the project.
“We have funding from Vietnam and our government and we are now setting up working plans,” he told Vientiane Times on Monday.
According to officials, there are four main aspects of the project. The first is to remove the unknown soldier monument from its current place in front of the Lao People's Army Museum and build a new one in front of the Lao National Assembly.
The second component is to build Xaysetthathirath Park to commemorate King Xaysetthathirath who moved the capital of Laos from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in 1560. Officials said the park would not include a statue of King Xaysetthathirath.
The third part of the project is to pave That Luang esplanade with concrete, and the fourth part is to relocate hundreds of residents living behind That Luang stupa. Vientiane authorities have agreed to compensate home owners located within 60 metres of the back of the stupa.
Mr Thongdam said residents in the area were happy to move so that development of the park could go ahead. He confirmed authorities had provided reasonable compensation to residents who will be relocated. Officials say some residents will be given new land in the city suburbs.
A department official said the relocation was part of efforts to protect the most significant stupa in the country. He said there was a lot of vehicle traffic in the area and this had damaged the stupa.
“Traffic causes vibrations which has led to the formation of cracks in the stupa,” said the official, who asked not to be named.
The authorities installed a fence to prevent large vehicles from driving in the area, but officials say drivers ignored the rule.
When the That Luang area is expanded, officials believe authorities would be able to stop vehicles from driving around the stupa.
The plan to develop That Luang into a recreation park began several years ago, but the government did not have sufficient funding to put the project into practice.
Mr Thongdam said the government was currently calculating construction costs.
This project is one of 21 projects, which are scheduled for completion by 2009. The new park will be another tourist attraction to mark the 450 th anniversary of the capital's transfer from Luang Prabang to Vientiane .
