Financial constraints pose big challenge: Kulung

The Himalayan district of Solukhumbu, home to the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, is geographically diverse. Among its regions, Mahakulung Rural Municipality, located in the southern part of the district, is considered fertile for agriculture. Formed by merging the former Bung, Cheskam and Gudel village development committees, this rural municipality holds significance in agricultural production, hydropower and tourism.

In the 2022 local-level elections, Surya Bahadur Kulung of the Nepali Congress was elected Chairman of Mahakulung Rural Municipality.

Recently, our Solukhumbu correspondent Santosh Raut talked to Chairman Kulung on various aspects of the municipality. Excerpts: 

You have completed two and a half years in office. How has your experience been as the chairperson of a remote rural municipality?

As the chairperson of this remote Mahakulung Rural Municipality, I have faced numerous challenges over the past two and a half years. However, these challenges have also provided invaluable experiences. From the very beginning, I prioritised essential tasks. During my tenure, we have established a Nepal Telecom tower and expanded the Ncell towers, ensuring that all five wards of Mahakulung now have access to 4G services. Additionally, we have initiated the expansion of the Indra Honitti Ring Road network to improve connectivity in geographically difficult areas. In terms of electricity, we have accelerated the expansion of the national transmission line of the Nepal Electricity Authority, which is now operational.  

What differences have people experienced in the municipality since you assumed office?

When I took office, there were numerous challenges. Although road networks had been opened, transportation remained difficult. We have been working continuously to improve these roads and construct bridges. Moreover, we have resolved the long-standing dispute over the construction of the municipality’s administrative building by securing land and advancing the construction process. Many developments have taken place and I am confident that the  community of Mahakulung has experienced significant changes.  

To what extent have you fulfilled the commitments you made during the election?

During the election, various commitments were made based on local needs, which were outlined in our manifesto. I have been working according to these commitments. Some of these have already been fulfilled while others are in progress. For instance, all five wards now have roads suitable for vehicular movements year-round and 95 per cent of the construction works of two concrete bridges have been completed. 

One Bailey Bridge has been fully constructed. Additionally, a new agreement has been made between the municipality and the under-construction hydropower project to build another Bailey Bridge. The construction of the previously controversial administrative building is progressing rapidly. Other initiatives, such as improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, capacity building and women’s empowerment are also underway.

As a people's representative, what are your top priorities for the overall development of the rural municipality?

My primary focus has been on expanding road networks to ensure smooth transportation year-round and constructing necessary bridges and infrastructure. Alongside physical development, I have prioritised the economic prosperity of both the municipality and its residents. Education and healthcare, which are fundamental to development, are also high on my agenda. To strengthen the economy, we are promoting commercial agriculture by providing training and distributing seeds. Additionally, to expand Solukhumbu’s tourism beyond the upper Khumbu region, we are developing the lower Solu area as a tourism hub. We have been constructing various trekking routes and promoting destinations such as Mera Peak and Panchpokhari.  

What improvements have been made in education and healthcare and what plans do you have?

In the past, Mahakulung lagged in education, but in recent years, significant improvements have been made. As the school system has strengthened, local youths have started passing teacher service and public service commission exams, demonstrating the impact of quality education. In addition to government-appointed permanent teachers, the municipality has hired grant-based teachers to ensure children in remote areas receive proper education.

In healthcare, we have operationalised the Mahakulung Basic Hospital with specialised staff to provide essential medical services. Various health units and village clinics have also been established to serve the community. Furthermore, we are collaborating with governmental and non-governmental organisations to implement programmes in education, healthcare and agriculture.

How is the coordination with the federal and provincial governments?

The constitution has established three tiers of government, with local governments like ours playing a crucial role. Each level has its responsibilities and our collaboration with the federal and provincial governments has been very positive. Our municipality receives fair budget allocation from higher authorities and we ensure transparency in utilising these funds for development projects. We are grateful to the federal and provincial governments for their support.  

What challenges do you face while leading a local government?

Being a local government in a remote area comes with inevitable challenges. On one hand, working under local laws and regulations has made governance smoother, but on the other, the lack of sufficient authority for local governments sometimes creates difficulties. The absence of certain federal laws has also hindered our work. Additionally, due to limited internal revenue and the challenge of fulfilling all public needs with federal and provincial budgets, financial constraints remain a significant challenge.