Local residents at around a dozen villages in Lahan-14 have been deprived basic amenities such as roads, health centres and drinking water.

Hari Thapa, a local resident said he has to walk for 10 hours to reach Lahan bazaar whereas it takes almost two days to travel around the same ward. Gadul Bahadur Magar, coordinator of the Ward Citizens’ Forum, said the Forum members are facing difficulties to meet once a month due to lack of transportation.

He said villagers are compelled to walk for 12 hours even to reach the nearest sub-health post in the ward. “They have to walk for two days

to receive recommendation letter from the municipality,” he added.

There are around 4,000 people from Magar, Chhetri, Rai and Dalit communities in the ward. Ward Secretary Pushkal Dhungana said the people in the ward have been facing difficulties due to geographical remoteness. The problem worsened as Rumjatar, Naagbeli, Soli Dhunga, Mainatar, Dhabre, Baradmar, Tande, Bhasuwa, Bhamare, Aaridmar, Ghyampe and Saytawati areas were incorporated in the municipality without constructing any city infrastructures.

The main obstacle for development activities in the ward is its own geography. “I can visit around the ward in three days but still cannot reach Gharlauri,” he said.

Meanwhile, the municipality’s Executive Officer Krishna Bahadur Karki said they have started development works in the ward. “We have prioritised road construction,” he said.