Dhadingbesi tense over municipal office set-up

Dhading, August 2

Tension remained high for some time in Dhading district headquarters Dhadingbesi today over a forceful attempt to set up a municipal office at the building of District Coordination Committee.

Citing the ‘apathy’ of the DCC to oblige with its request for space to run the municipal office, officials of Nilkantha Municipality including Mayor Bhim Prasad Dhungana had reached the DCC today with necessary furniture. Upon being stopped by the local administration at the gate, the mayor and his team scuffled with police.

Thwarted in their attempts to enter the DCC compound, the municipal officials pitched a tent at outside the gate, declaring they had brought the municipal office into operation temporarily from there.

Meanwhile, Local Development Officer Jibalal Bhushal took leave of absence after sensing what was in the offing. Following the tip-off about attempts to forcefully occupy the DCC building, a heavy security presence had been ensured at the site today.

“There is nothing illegal and unlawful on our part, as we have come here to set up the municipal office as per the recommendation of the local development ministry,” said Mayor Dhungana, adding that they have a recommendation of the ministry to set up the municipal office at the DCC building. “Though the LDO is aware about the ministry’s letter, he didn’t respond to us for long and has gone on leave now, which is not fair,” he said.

Meanwhile, DAO clarified that police was deployed keeping in view the security of the office of the returning officer inside the DCC compound.

Election to District Coordination Committee is yet to happen in Dhading. The election is scheduled for August 7. Though there had been an all-party meeting at the DAO to discuss the issue, the meeting remained inconclusive.

For want of a building of its own, Nilkantha Municipality had been running its office from a rented facility.