Ministries changed but not the work

Even after 16 months of designation of Rapti Upatyaka as the permanent capital of Lumbini province, none of the structures of the capital have been able to remain permanently. After he was appointed as the Minister, Deukhuri MP Indrajit Tharu had shifted the Ministry of Health, Population and Family Welfare on November 13. The ministry was shifted to the office building of Rapti village municipality ward no. The ward office was shifted to another building nearby. After the transfer of the ministry to Deukhuri, Minister Chaudhary and Minister of State for Dang Vimala Kumari Wali took charge.

 The meeting of the Provincial Assembly on September 7, 2008 had decided to make Rapti Municipality of Dang, Wards No. 1, 2 and 3 of Gadhwa Municipality and Wards No. 8 and 9 of Shitganga Municipality of Arghakhanchi the permanent capital. At that time, it was said that the work would start from the permanent headquarters within a year. The Ministry of Rural and Urban Development has been shifted to Deukhuri after nine months and the Ministry of Health has been shifted to Deukhuri after 14 months. So far, the two ministries have been shifted to Bhaluwang but are limited to Nampati. His work is being carried out from the temporary capital Butwal. "We have been using letterpads and addresses in Deukhuri," said Health Minister Indrajit Tharu.

 Minister Tharu has said that it will be difficult to work from Deukhuri until the Chief Minister's office is vacated. He said, "We plan to work from Deukhuri soon." He said that even though the ministry has its office in Bhaluwang, it has to keep its liaison office in Butwal.

 At present, there are two ministers and a minister of state from Dang in Lumbini province. Another minister, Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, has taken charge of rural and urban development. Dangkai Wali is the Minister of State for Health and Arjun Shrestha is the Minister of State for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. Most of the three ministers are in Dang and their ministry is in Dang. Although the work is still being done from Butwal, most of the ministers are still in Dang. The Dang minister wants to move the work forward in his own district. "We are taking initiative to work from here as soon as possible to exert pressure," Tharu said. "That is why we have brought the ministry here."

 Minister Tharu says that work could not be done here due to the staff. "There are more and more practical problems of the employees," said Minister Chaudhary, "but now those problems of the employees have almost been solved." According to him, the employees are relocating from one place to another for three to four years and their children are also with them and they have already been enrolled in the school. Therefore, the employees are being brought to the permanent capital by providing transportation facilities, he said.

 However, the Ministry of Rural Affairs was shifted to Dang for the first time last July, nine months after the permanent capital of the state was decided. The then Minister Hari Prasad Rijal had brought the ministry to Dang and later the Rural Minister Chaudhary of the coalition government also came to the ministry in Dang and took charge. As soon as he took office, he returned to Butwal. At present, the ministry has only a name plate in Dang.

 Attempts were also made to hold the winter convention in Bhaluwang, the permanent capital, in October, 2021. A team including the then Speaker and the then Minister for Internal Affairs and Law also visited the Rapti Technical School in Deukhuri area. The Lumbini State Infrastructure Development Authority was also formed for the construction of state infrastructure. Its office is open in Deukhuri. NEA is playing a role in building a permanent capital structure in Deukhuri.

Dispute over construction of state assembly building resolved

 The construction work of the vacant state assembly building has been going on for about a month and a half now. The construction work of the state assembly building, which was halted since November 10, has resumed. NEA Chief Executive Officer Ananta Raj Ghimire said that the work is being carried out according to the old design.

 According to him, the construction work of the state assembly building, which was halted for a month and a half after the state government gave instructions for the construction of the state assembly building in the old format and budget, has started from the second week of January. Even though it is said in the old design, Chinese bricks will be used in the walls of the state assembly building. Earlier, the design of the main door of the building was changed in such a way as to reflect the identity of the province.

 According to the NEA office, the federal government has allocated Rs. 1.20 billion for the construction of the state assembly building. YB Stone Builders Pvt. At present, 65 percent of the work of the building has been completed, said Minister Tharu. The state assembly building will have 14 rooms for important people, polling booths and dignitaries.

 Delay in relocation of technical school

 As the Rapti Technical School can be made the main administrative center and the state convention can also be conducted, the state government has not been able to use the school so far even though a team including the speaker had monitored it some time ago. Established in 2050 BS, the school is spread over an area of ​​16 bighas and has an auditorium that can accommodate 300 students. There are 35 buildings, big and small. It can also run the state assembly and the administrative center.

 Health Minister Tharu said that discussions are still going on to shift the school to Saraswati Secondary School in Gobardiha. "We are discussing the immediate relocation of the classes here," he said.

 Preparations are underway to move the school from there in two phases. Minister Tharu said that the first phase will be completed in February and the second phase in April. Saraswati Mavic has 18 bighas of land. According to Minister Tharu, an agreement has been reached to give 14 bighas of land to the school and four bighas to be used by Saraswati Mavli. As the UCPN-M has 6 bighas of public land, it will have enough land to run schools and colleges. "Nowadays, big universities are run on one and a half bighas of land," he said. "We have more than 18 bighas of land, that's enough!" ”

 One billion from the federal government

 Preparations are underway to invite bids for the permanent capital of Lumbini province with a budget of Rs. 1 billion guaranteed by the federal government. According to NEA Chief Executive Officer Ananta Raj Ghimire, bids are being prepared soon. "One billion budget has been secured from the federal government," he said.

 The master plan was prepared only 16 months after the declaration of permanent capital and the process of finalizing it is underway. NEA executive director Ghimire has already given suggestions. The master plan will be completed after the Chief Minister looks at it and the expenditure will be made accordingly. The state government has formulated a master plan at a cost of Rs. 7.9 million.