JANAKPUR, Feb 10: A meeting of major political parties active in Mahottari district has decided to recommend the government to set up integrated administrative service centers in all the constituencies of the district, which had remained tense last week over the issue of the centers. [break]
According to the decision, such centers will be established at Bardibas, Loharpatti. Pipara, Ram Gopalpur and Gaushala of the district.
The meeting also decided to demand the government to reinstate drinking water office, soil conservation and forest office, which were shifted to Bardibas during the conflict time, to Jaleshwar, the district headquarters.
People hard-hit as highway stays shut on ninth day
Roads had remained deserted for the ninth consecutive day on Tuesday as locals along the East-West Highway took to the streets protesting against the government´s decision to suspend the process of establishing integrated administrative service centers in four central Tarai districts.
Locals in Bardibas of Mahottari district, Nawalpur and Hariwan of Sarlahi, Chandranigahapur of Rautahat and Nijgadh of Bara had blocked the Highway with tents erected astride. People had staged the sit-in halting all traffic movement. Schools and businesses remained shut because of the protest action.
With traffic halted, people from the eastern region of the country are facing hardship getting to Kathmandu and the western parts.
“It takes almost 22 hours to get to Kathmandu via Indian territory,” said Tej Narayan Chaudhari, chairman of Janakpur Transportation Entrepreneurs Association. “It used to take 10 hours in the past,” he said. Vehicles coming to Kathmandu enter Indian territory through Bhitthamodh and return to Nepal through Raxaul, covering in between places from Sitamadhi to Mujaffarpur, according to Chaudhari. Passengers who were paying Rs 500 in bus fare to Kathmandu now have to pay Rs 300 more.
Related story
When will the closed trial centers reopen?
