The daily administrative works and development activities in the local units of Province 1 have been hampered by the shortage of staff.

Manju Bhandari, acting mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolis, has got an additional responsibility of policy formation for development and law implementation after the death of Mayor Tara Subba.

On July 17, 2018, Subba, who was suffering from severe pneumonia, died in the course of treatment in Kathmandu.

“I have got more responsibility after the death of Subba. I have taken this time as both a challenge and an opportunity,” said Bhandari.

Binod Kumar Pokharel, chief administrative officer of the sub-metropolis, said that the deputy mayor has been looking after legislative, executive and judicial functions through municipal council, municipal board and judicial committee respectively.

“Policy making and its implementation have overlapped as there’s only one deputy mayor in the Sub-metropolitan City,” Pokharel said.

Meanwhile, the post of chairperson at Makalu Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha has remained vacant for the last one year. Khadga Bahadur Katuwal, chairperson of the rural municipality, died in a car crash at Makalu Rural Municipality-3 on January 14, 2018. Locals said the development activities in the rural municipality have been moving at a snail’s pace after the death of Katuwal.

Similarly, the post of ward chairperson at Khandbari Municipality-3 has been vacant after the death of the ward chairman, and the post of ward chairperson in Khandbari Municipality-5 is also vacant after the ward chairman went to South Korea for employment.

The situation of Phalgunanada Rural Municipality in Panchthar district is also similar. Chairman Amar Kumar Nembang died following a heart attack in February 9.

Anil Khatri, chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, said that they are facing problems while handling the day to day administrative and development works of the municipality. The date of a by-election in the local units of Province 1 has not been announced yet.

“Locals have been demanding government to announce the by-election date soon,” Khatri said.