Inauguration of area administration office building sparks controversy

By Radha Krishna Dumre,Waling, Aug. 21: The inauguration of the area administration office building in Waling, Syangja, has sparked controversy. 

Last Sunday, Home Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal inaugurated the new facility building, but the event has become a point of contention.

Immediately following the inauguration of the building in Waling Municipality-9, local landlords who had donated land to construct the building staged a protest.  They submitted a memorandum expressing their concerns about being neglected and covered the inscription placed on its wall during the inauguration ceremony.

The land donors and locals submitted a memorandum to Subas Sharma Paudel, the head of the area administration office.  The donors are demanding the removal of the inscription and inauguration of the building again with the participation of the land donors.

While submitting the memorandum, land donor Kapildev Sharma Pangeni stated, “We donated land worth millions for free, yet we were ignored.”

He also complained that they were not permitted to attend the building’s inauguration ceremony.

Kapil Dev donated one ropani four annas of land for the building while Dhurvaraj Pangeni contributed one ropani, Khadga Kumari Khand provided eight annas, and Bishnu Prasad Pangeni gave four annas, all free of cost. 

The building was constructed in an area of three ropanis of land. The area where the building stands is one of the most expensive locations in Waling Municipality.

The copper plate on the building displays the opening date as July 6, 2024, although the actual inauguration took place on August 18.

This discrepancy has drawn Home Secretary Aryal to controversy. He is now facing criticism in his home district over the building’s inauguration.

The administration, serving the seven municipalities of the district, provides essential services such as citizenship, passports, and national identity cards for minors, Dalits, and indigenous communities.

The Area Administration Office in Waling covers Waling, Galyang, and Chapakot Municipalities, Kaligandaki Rural Municipality, Ward Nos. 4, 5, and 9 of Bhirkot Municipality, Ward Nos. 6 and 7 of Biruwa Rural Municipality and Ward Nos. 4, 5, and 6 of Harinas Rural Municipality.