Pokhara, December 26

Local residents of Lekhnath, Kaski have formed a concern committee demanding that the town be made the provincial capital of Province 4.

A 250-member-strong committee, comprising a parliamentarian and leaders of various local organisations from Lekhnath, was formed today.

The committee also includes a 14-member coordination committee led by Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Krishnahari Bhandari, comprising chairpersons of eight wards of Pokhara-Lekhnath Metropolitan City and political representatives.

Kaski Constituency No 1 Parliament-elect Khagaraj Adhikari vowed to make the town the provincial capital. “Lekhnath must be the provincial capital, at least to give the people of Lekhnath municipality the feel that they are now in the metropolis,” he said, seeking support of all Lekhnath residents. “We don’t say that we need to have every province-level offices and facilities in Lekhnath only, but as the town deserves to be the provincial capital, we can’t let go of this opportunity,” he added.

Various others gathered at the programme today sought fair distribution of development in Lekhnath, which together with Pokhara now make a metropolis, Pokhara-Lekhnath.

Earlier, a committee led by the regional administrator inspected infrastructure in Lekhnath to determine whether the town had suitable structures in place to be made the provincial capital. The committee had later concluded that the town lacked proper infrastructure and recommended Pokhara as the provincial capital.

A total of 60 representatives — 36 from first-past-the-post and 24 from proportional representation — will form the provincial assembly in Province 4.