Phidim, July 4

The issue of centre of Falgunanda Rural Municipality in Panchthar is festering with each passing day.

After agreement on whether to change rural municipality centre remained elusive for long, the issue had been put to vote six months ago. But though majority of votes were cast in favour of shifting the centre to Kolbung from current Ghurbise Panchami, the shift is yet to be made, which has persuaded those in favour of Kolbung to start protest.

Protesting the delay in shifting the centre, local representatives of Falgunanda Rural Municipality, Wards 1, 2 and 3, along with ward chairpersons today decided to boycott programmes with the participation of the rural municipality chief and his deputy. Irate local representatives have also boycotted training on the operation of local government organised by the district coordination committee.

Meanwhile, though the local body had informed about its decision to shift its centre, the concerned ministry had refused to recognise the decision saying it came late. Ever since the ministry’s refusal to recognise the decision, representatives in the local body have been divided into two camps.

Rural municipality Chair Ambar Bahadur Nembang denied he had any vested interest in shifting the centre of local body. While 19 votes were cast in favour of Kolbung, 18 were cast in favour of Ghurbise Panchami on December 29 vote.