Eight local bodies in Doti district have not procured fire engines even after many years of the formation of the local bodies. There are nine local bodies including seven rural municipalities and two municipalities in the district.
The importance of fire engines has been felt at the local bodies of late with an increase in fire incidents during this dry summer season. It has become more obvious after the wildfire started in various community forests started spreading to settlements, according to locals.
Although almost all the local governments have bought dozers for the construction of local roads and cars for use by the local government officials, they have not shown any interest in procuring fire trucks.
"The local officials are well-aware of the pressing need for fire engine at the local level but they are not paying any heed to procure the vital vehicle," charged Roj Bahadur Kalel of Badikedar rural municipality-1.
"They (the elected local officials) can buy dozer for road construction, they can buy cars for their travel but they cannot buy fire trucks. We have people's representatives of this mindset, who do you complain? Fire incidents are reported in many places and we are having a hard time tending the fires for want of fire trucks," he complained.
All the nine local bodies in the district have road access but none except Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality has a fire engine at its disposal.
Dipayal Silgadhi municipality has two fire engines but one is out of order for many years now while the municipality is doing with only one fire truck.
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