Good governance is our focus: Gaindakot Mayor

‘We have focused on development of education, health, infrastructure, agriculture’ Located 150 kilometres southwest of the capital Kathmandu, Gaindakot Municipality is considered one of the fastest developing local levels of the Nawalpur (Nawalparasi East) district and Gandaki Province. It is now led by Madan Bhakta Adhikari of the Nepali Congress. 

People of Gaindakot consider Adhikari as someone with experience as he led the area as its Pradhan Pancha for 25 years during the Panchayat years too. The Rising Nepal's correspondent Homraj Ranabhat talked with Mayor Adhikari about his plans to take Gaindakot Municipality forward and deliver the best services to its denizens.

It has been a year since you assumed office. What works have you done?

We have mainly focused on good governance. We have formulated local acts, regulations and criteria to improve the sectors like education and cooperatives. We worked to get nearly 294 Bighas of public land in wards 6, 7 and 9 registered in the name of the Government of Nepal. 

In infrastructure, we have begun work on building embankments on the Narayani River. We are also constructing new buildings for the ward offices. We have also categorised land, focused on the management of riverine materials and are working to solve the issue of landless squatters.

Furthermore, we are concentrated on extending the tax net to increase the municipality's income and have drafted and implemented periodic plans for development.

What long-term plans are you formulating to make Gaindakot prosperous?

We are aiming to develop the banks of the Narayani River as beaches and attract tourists. We also plan to work with the private sector to develop tourism infrastructure and use the sector to boost local income.

We have also devised a policy to modernise agriculture and bring in investment. We are preparing to make basic education from grades 1 to 5 completely free from the coming fiscal year. 

What sectors have you prioritised in the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24?

Education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and other basic sectors that are essential for the municipality's development. We will also strongly emphasise tourism and infrastructure. We will also focus on implementing the budget we present.

Are you coordinating with your neighbouring Bharatpur Metropolitan City? If so, in which sectors?

We are two local levels in two different districts in two different provinces. But that has not stopped us from cooperating. In fact, our collaboration is centred on the very Narayani River that separates us. Both of us are working on developing the river's banks as beaches and on distributing the riverine materials. We also exchange good practices and share partnerships with the private sector.

We coordinated in the past and will continue coordinating in the future too.

How many of their expectations can Gaindakot's residents expect to be fulfilled in the next four years?

Our desire is to deliver results on good governance, infrastructure, education, health and agriculture that the people can see and feel before we leave office. But, a lack of clear legal demarcation of the local government's jurisdiction, cooperation from other levels of government and the impact federal and provincial government's policies and programmes have at the local level have limited our ability to address issues of direct public concern. 

What do you have to say about the disputes that have arisen during your tenure?

Disputes and disagreements are normal in a democracy. They are a test of the abilities of people in managerial positions and being able to solve them in a just and timely manner is what matters. My 25 years of prior experience helped me resolve such issues in an amicable manner, as did the help and support provided by my fellow elected representatives, civil servants, political parties, Gaindakot residents, intellectuals and the media.

How much support have political parties extended?

I understand that all political leaders and parties are united for Gaindakot's development. Our slogan of "Our common desire, peaceful and prosperous Gaindakot" and the periodic plan we drafted under it were enacted with the agreement and support of all parties. We are also all in collaboration to deliver progress to the people of this municipality.