Dhangadhi, September 27
Locals of Dhangadhi city in Kailali district of Province 7 have called for the shutdown of all businesses and trades in the city for one day as they launched a protest against the Provincial Assembly’s preparations to relocate the provincial capital into a ‘forest’.
Dhangadhi has been serving as the provisional provincial capital for last one year. However, a committee in the Assembly on Tuesday had recommended that the capital be shifted to a forest area in Godavari Municipality of the district.
Locals have claimed the area recommended for the capital city does not have sufficient infrastructures for government functioning. They say the recommendation was made to serve vested interests of members of the land mafia and forest mafia.
Earlier on Wednesday, the locals led by the city’s Mayor and Nepali Congress leader Nripa Bada, staged a protest outside the Assembly building.
The Assembly is currently considering the recommendation, and is expected to come up with the decision soon.
Daily life of the locals has been hit hard due to the shutdown imposed in the run-up to the festive season.
