Rukum, August 8

As the Local Bodies’ Reconstruction Commission envisions a split Rukum district, but falls short of enunciating the boundary clearly, the resultant ambiguity and confusion have bedevilled discussions held on restructuring of local bodies in the district in recent days.

Though there is a mention of East and West Rukum in the constitution, for want of clarity over the boundary, discussions on gaunpalika. that have gained momentum in the district these days have been affected to a great extent.

While many believe there will be 11 village development committees in the eastern part of the district, others think differently.

As the issue has been a bone of contention, residents of Rukum have suggested that the leaders settle the issue as soon as possible.

Earlier, the locals in the district had waged a month-long agitation seeking that the district be featured in Province 5 without splitting it.

Local Civil Society Rukum leader Nawaraj Gautam reckoned that the prevailing constitutional crisis has to do with the neglect of the state in addressing the locals’ demand to keep the district intact.

“It would have been better if the state had heeded the locals’ demand and kept the district intact in Province No 5. Now that the split has been ruled, it is better if the state or the leaders make it clear to the people here as to the demarcation line along which the district is to be split,” said the civil society leader.

The Local Body Restructuring Commission of the government has envisioned a total of six local bodies in the district including six gaunpalikas and four municipalities. But due to lack of clarity regarding the split, every discussion being held over local bodies in the district ends in confusion.

“It would be easier for us to do our job if the state clarified about the boundary between east and west Rukum,” said State Restructuring Technical Support Committee coordinator Local Development Officer Bharat Kumar Sharma.

The issue has also baffled local political party leaders. According to NC leader and former state minister Gopalji Jung Shah, he personally put this matter in front of the erstwhile Local Development Minister Kamal Thapa many a time but to no avail.

Meanwhile, amidst the confusion there are voices that want the district to be split along the line of electoral constituencies.

The idea, however, does not seem promising as far as the CA member from CPN-MC Janardan Sharma is concerned, as doing so will affect his vote base. “He had been lobbying to split the district from the very beginning, but he wished to keep west Rukum in Province No. 6.

But if the district is split along the lines of electoral constituencies, he will be in constituency 1, which may not benefit him in any way as a political leader,” said a leader of the party.