DHANGADHI, Aug 16: Instead of prioritizing the needs and requirements of the poor and needy, the elected representatives of Province 7 have been accused of giving more preference to fulfilling their personal needs and desires.
They have been found giving more emphasis for purchasing personal vehicles instead of buying ambulance and fire engines for the public. One year after the local elections, none of the local units of Province 7 has bought the much-needed fire engines for public security.
However, they have not forgotten to buy jeeps and motorbikes for their personal use. Despite making several requests, locals of Gauriganga Municipality of Kailali failed to convince the local authority to buy a fire engine. Surprisingly, the municipality recently made a decision to purchase a vehicle for the mayor and deputy mayor. "We have decided to buy a jeep," said Bhim Deuba, mayor of Gauriganga, adding, "We had sanctioned Rs 2.4 to Rs 2.5 million for the purpose."
Elected representatives sideline public welfare to fulfill pers...
Replying a question asked by Republica about why did they notbuy a fire engine, Mayor Deuba said, "Our neighboring municipalities - Ghodaghodi and Godawari - have fire engines and we can use that at times of need."
Venting his ire against the inappropriate decision of the municipality, Dhirendra Kathayat of Ghodaghodi-10, Pahalmanpur said, "It would have been better had the people's representatives prioritized ambulance or fire engine which could play vital role in reducing human casualties."
Purchaudi Municipality of Baitadi was found transferring teachers without forming education policy. Mayor Rana Bahadur appointed Birendra Bahadur Dhanuk, a secondary-level teacher of Dileshwari Secondary School, as an education expert of the municipality. Locals have accused the elected representatives of nepotism while appointing staff. They have been slammed for favoring their cadres or relatives when it comes to giving jobs in the municipality.
Similarly, the chairperson of Chabispathibhera Rural Municipality of Bajhang has purchased motorcycles for chiefs of all wards. Buying ambulance and fire engines is something that the local unit has not yet discussed in its meetings.
Likewise, the ward chiefs of Bittharchir Rural Municipality too have been provided with motorbikes. During the elections, the people's representatives impressed the locals with their lofty promises but when the time came for fulfilling them, they are nowhere close. They are more obsessed with their own facilities instead of public welfare.
Motorbikes reach faster than roads
Not all wards of Pancheswar and Surnaya rural municipalities of Baitadi are connected to roads. However, all the wards chiefs of these local units have motorbikes. Reportedly, six wards of Pancheswar, 8 wards of Surnaya and few wards of Patan Municipality do not have access to roads. Using huge sum of money from the government budget, the local units have purchased vehicles for the elected representatives.
(With inputs from district reporters Pushparaj Joshi of Kailali, Bira Gadal of Baitadi, and Jagat Khadka of Bajhang)
