SURKHET, Feb 25: As a jumbo team of 40 representatives, including the chairperson of Simta Rural Municipality has left for an excursion, the service seekers visiting the local unit have been obliged to return home empty-handed.

The team led by Chairperson Kabindra Kumar KC went for a visit to various religious and historical sites in the country on Friday. This has completely halted the services provided by the local unit. "We have been deprived of government services since Friday as there are no officials and representatives at the rural municipality office," said Chitra Bahadur Thapa of Simta Rural Municipality-2.

On Sunday, Thapa had reached the rural municipality center Rakam from Kaflekot for the agreement of Nahagaun Drinking Water project. "After making a long journey to the rural municipality office, I was disappointed to see the locked door of the office. A lot of service seekers like me were obliged to return home empty-handed," Thapa added.Expressing their disappointment towards the visit, some ward chiefs have boycotted the trip.

The local unit has sanctioned Rs 1 million from the current budget for the official visits. "We had proposed to spend the budget on development work instead of wasting money on this unnecessary trip," said Hari Bahadur Singh Thakuri, chairperson of Simta-2, adding, "However, our proposal was rejected. So, we 15 representatives including three ward chiefs decided to boycott this visit."

The jumbo team of representatives will be visiting Pokhara, Lamjung among other districts. Chairperson KC informed Republica that the team is on a four-day visit. The total cost of the tour is yet to be ascertained. "Last year, the budget sanctioned for the visit was invested in development activities," said Chairperson KC.

Caption: The representatives of Simta Rural Municipality clicking photos during a visit to Pokhara.

 
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