Nepal-loving Japanese business doyen’s Vision 2005 Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, February 18: Latter-day development volunteers from Japan and other developed countries, come, see and go back with mixed feelings. But Takashi Miyahara, who came to Nepal in 1966 as development consultant, has ever since contributed to the development of tourism here . Out of his 38 years of association with Nepal, he has come up with a development plan which he says , if enforced, could change lives. He shuttles between Tokyo and Kathmandu on business with the same frequency as an average Kathmanduite would between Baneswore and Patan.“Nepal has received a lot assistance in the last 50 years. But it does not seem to have changed socio-economic life. Hence, strategies need to be evolved and implemented which can rectify matters,” Miyahara said yesterday while presenting a synopsis of his strategies under “2005: Vision of Tourism and National Development in Nepal.” As someone who is noted for pushing through ambitious projects like building a hotel above the snowline in the Everest region and who has been working for the Department of Cottage Industries ever since he arrived here in 1966, Miyahara has several ideas for the development of a number of sectors. “If one goes through my ideas for development of Pokhara, it will become evident that Nepal can do well if it taps that city’s potential,” Miyahara said, outlining a tourism plan for Pokhara Valley and Annapurna Himalayas. He had also suggested a horse-coach road plan for the region as high up as Upper Kaligandaki. His ideas included luring in tourism enterpreneurs to operate floating restaurants and possibly lodges too, in reference to Marsyandgi Lake. Similarly, a cable carway around Machapuchhre circuit, Annapurna IV ropeway, Sarangkot ropeway are other potential projects which he would love to implement. Then, there is the plan for scintillating Ghorepani even as he has a sketch of a new city, south of Seti river. That apart, there is a dream east-west railways which apart from ensuring cheap means of transport could also be a medium to introduce new technology here . He has worked out a sketch which puts the total length of the east-west trunk line at 873 km. The distance has been rounded off at 1000 km. He has conceptualised a plan for a multipurpose utilisation dam on Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali rivers, with immaculate liners drawn alongside for inspiration. Spillover benefits comprise power generation, irrigation, fishery, forestry and tourism. Miyahara has suggested a dam at Melamchi, Yangri, Larke and Sundarijal each, with a total area of water basin put at 310 sq km. While it might grate on the ears of some, Miyahara who is a trained engineer and a hotelier, had even suggested shifting the capital to Narayanghat, with an international airport at Simra.