Sindhupalchowk, December 30:

Though the government has sent Rs 54 lakh as compensation for conflict-displaced people in Sindhupanchowk, they are yet to receive financial aid.

Displaced people were deprived of compensation after the Maoists decided not to hold a meeting with CDO Kailashnath Kharel aimed at forming a peace committee for providing compensation. The Maoists have been saying that they would not sit for any meeting with CDO Kharel and have demanded his ouster from all such meetings.

District in-charge of CPN-Maoist Santosh said they would not accept any decision made in the presence of the CDO.

According to an agreement, a local peace committee comprising representatives from political parties and the civil society will be formed under the coordination of Tanka Dhungel, district president of the Janamorcha Nepal. With the Maoists unwilling to be present at meetings twice, peace committee is yet to be formed. According to CDO Kharel, the government would provide necessary compensation only after peace committee certifies the names of those displaced.

Some 611 members of 397 families have applied for compensation at the district administration office. The number of applicants is rising, said assistant CDO Narayan Baral. Some 200 political leaders and Maoist cadres, including the CPN-Maoist in-charge, and district secretary Daba Tamang, have been claiming that they are conflict-displaced.