Works to set up provincial government offices for Province 7 have been delayed due to hindrances caused by the political parties, demanding that the builders close to them should be awarded the contract.

The government has picked Dhangadhi of Kailali district as the temporary capital of Province 7.

Rabindra Bohara, chief of the Urban Development and Building Construction Division Office, said they have hardly got anything done because the party leaders are exerting pressure to award the contract to the people of their choices.

The office has already decided the buildings to set up provincial government offices, state parliament and state minister residences, but they need to be refurbished to suit their assigned purposes.

“There was already a delay in infrastructure planning because the central government did not send the plan and requirements in time. Now when we are finally ready to start, the parties are creating obstructions,” said Bohara. The office has until February 3 to construct the infrastructure. To get the job done in time, the office is planning to invite a tender notice on Wednesday.

According to Bohara, their target is to at least get the venues for Provincial Assembly Hall, the Province Secretariat and the Speaker’s Office ready on the given time.

Chief District Officer of Kailali Govinda Rijal said there are concerns that the delay in setting up of offices could hit the provincial government formation.

But despite the delays and concerns, he said, the concerned authorities are ready to pull out all the stops to ensure the government formation is not affected.   

“The venues will be ready before the formation of provincial government,” he said.

‘Province 1 will require more than 50 vehicles for its top brass’

BIRATNAGAR: Province 1 will need more than 50 vehicles for its top officials, according to Morang Chief District Officer Ram Prasad Acharya. While the government has yet to allocate the budget to buy vehicles for  VIP transportation service, some officials have taken the liberty to use the vehicles owned by some government offices. Acharya said the state governor, Govinda Bahadur Tumbahang, is using the vehicle of the District Education Office for the time being.