Pokhara, December 1
The government had a plan to lay foundation stones for 396 basic hospitals across the country on the same day on Monday. However, 84 of the scheduled events could not take place.
One of them was in Bhanu municipality of Tanahun. There was a plan to promote the Purandihi health post to a 15-bed municipal hospital.
The municipality had planned to lay the foundation stone for the building with its mayor Udaya Raj Gauli in the lead role. Various guests were invited accordingly.
But, at the eleventh hour, local officials elected representing the Nepal Communist Party demanded that the federal lawmaker representing the constituency where the hospital will lie, the NCP’s Krishna Kumar Shrestha aka Kisan, be given the lead role. Mayor Gauli represents the Nepali Congress party.
Consequently, the municipal executive could not make any decision about the function.
“I don’t know who laid the foundation stone for the hospital,” Mayor Gauli says, “At first, they spread the message that the mayor would do. Later, some demanded that the lawmaker should do. Building the hospital is the priority, it does not matter who lays the foundation stone for it.”
Six wards of the municipality are led by Nepali Congress leaders. The mayor and his deputy also belong to the same party. There are seven other wards led by NCP leaders.
