Kathmandu, January 2

The government has proposed temporary headquarters for all seven provinces, from which administrative works of the respective provinces will be carried out for the time being.

Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Hari Prasad Panthi said that the proposal was jointly prepared by a team of experts formed under the Ministry of Urban Development. He said the proposal was prepared after taking stock of physical infrastructure — government buildings for provincial assembly hall, office and residence for governors, office and quarters for provincial assembly speaker, at least seven ministries and ministerial quarters and other officers.

According to Panthi, a team of experts headed by Joint-secretary Rajendra Paudel serving at the MoUD proposed Gothgaun of Morang as temporary headquarters of Province 1, Janakpur of Province 2, Thimi of Province 3, Pokhara of Province 4, Dang of Province 5, Surkhet of Province 6 and Deepayal or Dhangadhi of Province 7.

Political parties are divided over choice of provincial headquarters in most of the provinces. “There is no dispute regarding Pokhara as headquarters of Province 4 and Surkhet as headquarters of Province 6,” said Panthi. He said the interim provincial headquarters was for some time, as they could be changed by two-third majority of the elected representatives of the respective province later as per the constitution.

Panthi said that the panel of experts had proposed to use land and buildings of Purbanchal University in Gothgaun of Morang for interim provincial headquarters of Province 1.

In Province 2 infrastructure of Janakpur Cigarette Factory would be used for temporary offices.

The government is mulling of using Dipendra Shabha Griha and some other buildings around it as the provincial assembly hall and other offices in Province 4. There are opposing views regarding headquarters of Province 5. People of the province are divided on Butwal or Dang.

Spokesperson Panthi said that first meeting of the provincial assembly and oath taking ceremony would be held and temporary headquarters would be proposed.

As per the constitution, the Provincial Assembly must be called within 20 days after announcement of the final result.