DANG, May 7: As most suggestions collected by the special committee formed to recommend the name of the capital of Province 5 are for naming Dang as the capital, the provincial assembly is in a fix whether to respect the majority.

The debate over the capital of the province has reached nowhere even after such a long time due to the differences in opinion. While some have been lobbying for Dang, others have been rooting for Butwal as the provincial capital. As per the law, the decision to fix the capital must be taken by a majority in the provincial assembly. However, the provincial assembly members have not been able to agree on one place as the capital of the province.

Earlier, the special committee formed for recommending the name and capital of the province collected suggestions from the people by visiting all districts of the province. After much struggle, the committee is closer to wrapping up its task. The committee, which is making final preparations before handing over the collected suggestions to the provincial assembly, is planning to form another committee of experts.

"According to the work plan, the suggestions by experts are also mandatory before handing our report to the assembly," said Dipendra Pun, coordinator of the special committee. Whether the collected suggestions will be a help in fixing the capital is still a question.

Reportedly, of the total 1,312 suggestions collected from all 12 districts of the province, 530 are for making Dang the permanent capital of the province. Especially, the people of Banke, Bardia and Nawalparasi districts have demanded that Dang be declared the provincial capital. "Most people have suggested Dang as the capital due to its accessibility," said one of the members of the special committee.

Even though a majority of the suggestions are in favor of Dang, whether the provincial assembly will respect it is a huge question. Similarly, 350 suggestions are in favor of Rupandehi, which is the temporary capital of the province. According to committee coordinator Pun, the issues of accessibility and availability of infrastructures will be given priority rather than the collected suggestions while fixing the capital.

"What matters more than the suggestions is the fact that how appropriate a particular place is for becoming the capital," he concluded.

 
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