Normal life was affected in Dhangadi on Thursday due to a strike called by locals against the proposal to shift the provincial capital from Dhangadhi to Godawari in Kailali. 

A five-member special committee led by Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chief Whip Tara Lama Tamang had submitted its report to the provincial assembly meeting on Tuesday, proposing 'Sudurpashchim' as the name of Province 7 and Godawari its Capital.

Local markets, transport services, educational institutions remained shut following the strike led by local leaders and cadres of main opposition Nepali Congress.

The NC has also objected to the fact that the proposed provincial capital will be made by destroying a forest area west of the Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura road section in Godawari Municipality-4, Kailali. The proposed place is about 20km from Dhangadhi—the temporary provincial capital.

“We will not accept the proposal to shift the province capital from Dhangadhi to a forest area at the foothills of Chure range,” said NC leader Hari Regmi.

On Wednesday, Dhangadi Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Nrip Bahadur Od had also taken part in the protest programme organised in front of the Province Assembly. Addressing the protest programme, Mayor Od warned that if the province Capital is shifted from Dhangadhi, all province assembly members should leave the Sub-Metropolis within 24-hrs.

Meanwhile, the main opposition yesterday tabled another proposal with Sudurpaschim as province name and Dhangadhi as province capital.

A voting is likely to be conducted on Friday on the proposals tabled by the special parliament committee and the NC.

As per the constitutional provision, the provincial assembly has the authority to name and designate the provincial capital by a two-thirds majority. The NCP has the required numerical strength in the assembly.