Clamour for provincial capital status for Biratnagar

Biratnagar, December 18

Various groups in Province 1 have demanded that their cities be made the provincial capital.

While residents of Dhankuta, the current eastern regional headquarters, have been agitating seeking the status for their city, lawmakers and local representatives elected from Biratnagar  of Morang are learnt to have started lobbying with political leaders at the central level to make the Tarai city the provincial capital.

The agitating locals of Dhankuta have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office through the regional headquarters office, stating their demand that Dhankuta be made the provincial capital given its current regional administrative status. On the other hand, those lobbying for Biratnagar have cited the city’s historic value and physical affluence as the reason why the sub-metropolis is ideal for the provincial capital.

Three elected provincial assembly members Jivan Ghimire, Jayaram Yadav and Kedar Karki of Morang have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba through the chief district officer’s office, while Mayor Bhim Parajuli of the sub-metropolis has met Prime Minister Deuba in person and handed him a memorandum seeking the status of provincial capital for Biratnagar.

“Biratnagar carries historic significance, so  it will be gross injustice to this grand city to consider establishing the provincial capital elsewhere,” said Mayor Parajuli, who also described the metropolis as an administrative and industrial capital of the province. “Besides, the city is richer compared to other cities of the province. Even the PM is positive about declaring Biratnagar the provincial capital,” said Parajuli.

Meanwhile, residents of Itahari Sub-metrpolis and Sundar Haraicha Municipality have also laid their claim that their respective cities should be declared the provincial capital. The municipality has also submitted a letter to the Ministry of Urban Development in that regard.