Dhangadi, February 8

As many as five provincial offices, including province assembly secretariat and ministries, in Province 7 have come into operation.

The office of the chief minister and council of ministers, office of the governor, Ministry of Land Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Ministry for Internal Affairs and Law have begun their work. Secretary at the office of the chief minister and council of ministers Pradip Raj Kandel said staffers in these offices had already started working.

Secretary Laxmi Ram Poudel has been deputed to the office of the chief minister, Secretary Hari Adhikari to the Ministry of Land Management, Secretary Pitamber Ghimire to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, and Secretary Yubraj Subedi to the office of the governor.

Coordinator of the Central Parliament Expert Team Murari Mahat  is handling the province assembly secretariat until a new chief arrives.

As many as four ministries — Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Ministry of Social Development and ministries of industry, tourism, forest and environment have yet to come into operation as staffers have yet to arrive.

Secretary Kandel said that the government had deployed 94 staffers in the province. “But not even one third of the staff have reached the duty station,” he informed.