RAUTAHAT, March 29: Citing “irregularities” in the development activities conducted by the local government, locals of Gadhimai Municipality have padlocked the municipal office demanding transparency.

The locals have accused the municipality of exercising monopoly while forming a consumers committee and being biased in distributing social security allowances. They have also accused the municipality of misappropriating budget sanctioned for various programs. Venting their ire against the municipal authorities, cadres of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) along with some locals have padlocked the office.  

Suspecting irregularities in buying computers, furniture, cupboards and stationary materials fore the municipal office, they have demanded an investigation. Not just that, they have suspected misappropriation of funds while buying medicines for the health posts and buying and selling tanks used for spraying pesticides by farmers. 

Hari Narayan Yadav, one of the aspirants of mayor during the local elections stated that the municipality is using workers for various works which actually should be done through a tender. He further stated that they padlocked the office to draw the attention of the authorities concerned towards the irregularities.
 
Meanwhile, Mayor Shyam Prasad Yadav claimed that there has been no irregularity and that he is ready for a probe. He further said that he is trying to convince the protesters to remove the padlock soon. According to him, some people are trying to obstruct the work of the municipality to fulfill their vested interests.

 
• gadhimai
 
• locals
 
• padlock
 
• municipal
 
• office
 
• demanding
 
• transparency