National
Clash in Sankhuwasabha leaves 15 people injured
Tension ran high in Mamaling of Sankhuwasabha district on Wednesday as locals clashed with police over the proposed centre of Dharmadevi Municipality.Tension ran high in Mamaling of Sankhuwasabha district on Wednesday as locals clashed with police over the proposed centre of Dharmadevi Municipality.
Security personnel had to fire nine bullets in air and lob tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. A police constable also sustained injuries when he was hit by a stone thrown by protesters. The district-level technical committee of the Local Level Restructuring Committee (LLRC) has proposed Mudhe of Tamaphok as the centre of Dharmadevi Municipality. Locals of Mamaling, however, have been protesting since Monday demanding that Jautar of Mamaling be made the centre of the municipality.
“We have been forced to take to the streets as the technical committee and representatives of major political parties have recommended Mudhe of Tamaphok as the centre of the municipality,” said Udaya Poudel of Mamaling. Protesting locals had vandalised two passenger buses in Mamling which resulted in the clash. According to locals, 15 protesters were injured in the clash.
As the LLRC in the Capital continues to struggle to finish its task, such protests do not bode well for the entire restructuring process.
Technical committees’ reports and proposals have sparked protests in other districts as well. Protests have continued in Okhaldhunga for the past one week.
On Tuesday, locals of Kanda VDC in Bajhang also staged a demonstration in the district headquarters. They have even threatened to renounce their citizenship if the VDC is not given the status of a separate village council. On Friday, locals in Bardiya shut Bhurigaun demanding incorporation of Babai, Suryapatuwa, Shivapur and Thakurdwara VDCs to form Thakurbaba Municipality. Expressing dissatisfaction at the demarcation of proposed municipalities, village councils and their centres, the locals had taken to the streets. In Dolpa, locals of Liku and Pahada staged protests at the District Administration Office on Wednesday to protest restructuring proposals. Protests have been reported in Gorkha and Gulmi among other districts as well.
LLRC asked to submit report in 2 weeks
KATHMANDU: Minister for Local Development Hitraj Pandey has asked the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC) to submit its report within two weeks, a deadline which the commission is unlikely to meet. Speaking at a programme in the Capital on Wednesday, Pandey said the report must be submitted within two weeks to allow the Election Commission ample time for preparations for local level elections which have been announced by the government for March-April.
“The government is working to hold local level elections by the announced date. However, the task of local level restructuring must be completed for holding the elections,” said Minister Pandey. The LLRC’s technical committees in various districts have yet to submit their reports to the commission. On top of that, technical committees in eight districts of Province 2 have not even started their work, largely due to opposition from Madhes-based parties, which have already announced that they will not recognise LLRC’s work saying the entire criteria is flawed. (PR)