The Pashupati Development Trust Government Council meeting Sunday approved an annual Rs.240.6 million budget of which Rs.227.2 million or 92.03 percent of the total fund has been set aside for development and the remainder for general expenditure, an announcement said.

As designated by Trust Chairperson Queen Komal, the meeting which approved the budget was chaired by vice chairman of the Council Minister for Tourism and Culture Govinda Raj Joshi. Government contributed Rs.115 million to the Trust while the deficit will be met through internal resources and donations.

Queen Komal succeeded late Queen Aishwarya as the Trust’s chairperson. Development plans include the construction of a crematorium, expansion of Pashupatinath temple premises, preservation of monuments and expansion of Aryaghat services among other things.