DHARAN: The ongoing conflict between Mayor Harkaraj Rai and Ward Chairs, along with executive members, in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City remains unresolved.
Since being elected on May 13, 2022, Mayor Sampang has struggled to coordinate with all elected representatives, leading to increasing issues.
The budget for the upcoming fiscal year had been prepared, and a municipal assembly was scheduled after the ward chairs and the executive members reached an agreement.
However, due to a dispute over extending contracts for temporary employees, the budget impasse began on Tuesday.
Despite plans for a municipal assembly on Monday, the assembly did not occur, leading to a budgetary void in Dharan from today, rendering the administration unable to conduct any financial transactions.
This new crisis emerged after the previous budget failed to pass the municipal assembly.
Representatives waited until 9 pm on Monday for the municipal assembly to convene.
However, Mayor Hark Sampang disagreed with the executive members’ stance that employee contracts should be automatically renewed.
Consequently, the assembly could not convene, resulting in a budgetary void.
Ward Chair of Dharan-17 and the Spokesperson of the spokesperson of the Submetropolis, Surya Bahadur Bhattarai ‘Manoj’, stated that the problem arose after Mayor Sampang left without considering the proposal to correct the decision and hold the municipal assembly.
The mayor had been advised to renew the contracts of temporary employees until positions were filled by the Public Service Commission.
However, Mayor Sampang annulled the executive decision of June 24, adding a clause to remove unsatisfactory contract employees.
This action sparked opposition in Monday’s executive meeting, according to Ward Chair Bhattarai.
Bhattarai noted that while there are provisions to take action against unsatisfactory contract employees as outlined in the agreement, Mayor Sampang’s stubbornness led to the budgetary void.
Although the executive body had already passed the budget, it requires approval from the municipal assembly.
Chair Bhattarai accused the mayor of intentionally delaying the assembly, causing the budget to remain unapproved.
After the assembly did not convene on Monday, representatives staged protests.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sampang assured residents that the budget would not be halted.
“Residents, do not worry; the budget will not be stopped,” he said, adding, “The budget will not be halted by the actions of a few individuals. Rest assured, development and services will proceed at an accelerated pace.”
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