DTAC’s proposal disappoints locals

Phidim, November 19

Locals of Panchthar are disappointed with the recommendation made by political parties and the District Technical Assistance Committee  to have nine local bodies in the district.

The Local Body Restructuring Commission had written to the technical committee to recommend not more than eight local bodies. However, the technical committee was forced to propose nine bodies after differences arose between political parties and local residents over the number of local bodies.

According to the proposal, Panchthar will have one municipality and eight village assemblies. The technical committee said it was forced to propose nine local bodies after the locals from far flung areas of the district protested the earlier proposal.

“We recommended nine bodies to address the locals’ demands and political parties rooted for it as well,” said coordinator of the technical committee Bhanu Baral. The new recommendation, however, has failed to appease the locals. They have accused the technical committee and political parties of splitting the VDCs, wards and fixing the centres arbitrarily.