Even after four months of the local elections in Siraha, the majority of local units in the district have still not held their council meetings, which has affected the local development works. 

Of the 17 local units, eight municipalities and nine rural municipalities, 15 are yet to convene their council meetings.

According to the Local Government Operation Act 2074 BS, local units are required to hold their council meetings to execute development activities. 

Rabindra Kumar Mahat, chief of Laxmipur Patari Rural Municipality, admitted that development activities have been affected as the council meeting could not take place for a long time.

“We are preparing to call the council meeting at the earliest so that we can spend the budget for local development” he said.   

Only Dhangadhimai and Sukhipur municipalities have conducted their council meetings in the district so far.

“ We held the municipal council meeting despite the shortage of employees and resources.

All political parties and elected representatives have pledged to work towards the development of the municipality,” said Dhangadhimai Municipality mayor Harinarayan Chaudhary.

The District Treasury Office had released the budget of Rs 1.56 billion to all 17 local units on December 14. However, the local units have been unable to utilise the budget as most of them have not held their council meetings.