Key Takeaways:
- Food Technology, Drinking Water, and Transport Offices still renting private buildings.
- Vacant government premises include Health Training Centre, DAO, Land Revenue Office, Police Office and others
- Dhankuta has 391 government buildings, many underutilised or deteriorating
- Locals and officials question why agencies spend hundreds of thousands annually on rent
Three government offices in Dhankuta are continuing to operate from rented buildings despite the availability of several vacant government-owned premises, raising concerns over unnecessary public spending and poor utilisation of state assets.
The Food Technology and Quality Control Office, the Federal Drinking Water and Sewerage Management Office, and the Transport Management Office are paying annual rent for private buildings even though multiple government buildings remain unused within close proximity.
Several state-owned buildings in the district headquarters have been left vacant and are gradually deteriorating. These include the former buildings of the Health Training Centre, Cottage and Small Industries Office, District Administration Office, Land Revenue Office, District Police Office, and the erstwhile Regional Health Office.
Similarly, the building designated as the Chief Minister's Contact Office remains largely unused, with only an office assistant stationed there.
Officials and locals have questioned why government agencies continue to spend hundreds of thousands of rupees annually on rent while vacant government buildings-ranging from five to 14 rooms-remain idle, in some cases just 50 metres away from the rented offices.
According to government records, Dhankuta has 391 government buildings, both occupied and unoccupied. The district, which historically served as the headquarters of the former Eastern Development Region, continues to possess extensive government infrastructure, much of which is now underutilised.