据悉，在连接尼泊尔佛教圣地——蓝毗尼和距其最近的Bhairahawam 市的主道路两旁建有至少8家水泥厂。从工厂散发出的粉尘覆盖了道路，具有有毒物质的工业污水也被排放到附近的河流和小溪中，造成严重的环境污染问题。而800多辆经由 Bhairahawa 向印度运输沙子和石块的货车则造成了交通堵塞问题。预计，还会有更多的此类工厂在此建筑。

当地居民表示，十分关注因和佛祖的关系而被命名的“和平长廊”道路14英里路段两旁运作的石头粉碎机造成的空气及噪音污染问题。

蓝毗尼的工业家纳拉扬·普拉萨德·阿瓜瓦尔表示，他对这一地区日益严重的的环境问题感到忧虑。因为这一地区交通便利、水源充足，能源充沛，是一个很理想的工业区，势必会有更多的企业在这安家。

一直致力于促进尼泊尔和平的佛教组织 Soka Gakkai International的成员表示，政府应该采取积极主动的措施来保护这个地方，使蓝毗尼远离噪音和污染。

据悉，蓝毗尼发展信托基金会正计划禁止在该地区使用塑料袋和其他污染材料。并想通过在当地种植该地品种的树木，保护现有植被，来保护当地环境。

尼泊尔蓝毗尼于1997年被联合国教科文组织列为世界文化遗产，是佛教四大圣地之一。（编译：子规）

The birthplace of Buddha is being polluted by noise and heavy industry, environmentalists have warned.

At least eight cement factories are in operation on a main road linking the Nepalese holy site at Lumbini with the nearest city Bhairahawam and more are expected to become operational soon.

Locals are also concerned about air and noise pollution from stone crushers operating on both sides of a 14-mile stretch of road known as the "peace corridor" after its association with Buddha.

Dust from the factories covers much of the road while toxic effluents are discharged into rivers and streams. An estimated 800 lorries carry sand and boulders to India via Bhairahawa every day, causing traffic jams.

A member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organisation promoting peace in Nepal, told the Press Association: "The government should take care to preserve this place. They should take initiatives and get involved in projects to make Lumbini free of pollution and noise."

Lumbini was nominated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1997 and is one of the four pivotal places in the life of Buddha, the others being Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath in India.

Narayan Prasad Agrawal, an industrialist in Lumbini, said he was worried about the increasing environmental hazards to the area. "There is a dual carriageway, a 33-kV power grid and sufficient water supply system so it is an ideal place for industries," he said.

The Lumbini Development Trust is planning to ban the use of plastics and other polluting materials in the area and also wants to plant local species of trees and preserve the existing vegetation to protect the environment.