Residents from Bungal Municipality spend at least two days travelling to and from the district headquarters to obtain their citizenship certificates. Previously under Dahabagar, Kaflaseri and Pipalkot village development committees, the locals are compelled to spend at least Rs12,000 in transportation, meals and hotel stays.

“Two people must go—the applicant and a witness. If the documents are in order, they can be returned within two days. If not, or if there is any mismatch, it can take six to seven days,” said Jaimal Dhami, former ward chairman of ward 2 of Bungal Municipality. “Some people have to travel between the ward office and Chainpur three or four times due to clerical errors. During my tenure, there were many complaints from people who were compelled to spend Rs80,000 to Rs90,000 just to obtain their citizenship.”

This decades-long struggle of travelling for days and spending thousands of rupees is not limited to residents of Bungal. People from Bitthadchir, Kedarsyu and Thalara rural municipalities face the same ordeal. Meanwhile, the Area Administration Office, intended to provide relief, remains unopened due to a local dispute in Kedarsyu Rural Municipality over its location.

The office, designated for Bajhang’s Provincial Assembly constituency 2, is caught in a row over site selection. Residents of Jhota, Deura and Bagthala within Kedarsyu are in conflict, each demanding the office be located in their own area.

Dhami said the remote population is suffering as Kedarsyu residents continue to contest the office location, hoping its presence will raise land prices and boost local business. “It would be a facility for us regardless of where it opens, as long as it opens quickly,” he said. “We are suffering because of their interest in business growth and rising land values.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs had announced a programme to open area administration offices in 23 locations, including Bajhang, in the current fiscal year’s budget. Accordingly, a Cabinet meeting on January 5 approved the opening of offices in nine locations, including Bajura, Doti, Darchula and Baitadi.

After the government initiated the establishment process, residents of Jhota and Deura launched protest programmes demanding that the office be set up in their respective areas. They have submitted memorandums to the District Administration Office, Bajhang, but no decision has been reached. The dispute escalated further when residents of Bagthala also demanded the office. Last November, locals from Bagthala blocked roads and staged demonstrations to press their claim.

Residents of Deura argue the office should be located in their area as it is closer to municipalities such as Bungal and Bitthadchir. Residents of Jhota counter this by pressuring the ministry, claiming Deura Bazaar falls within the inundation area of the West Seti Hydropower Project and is therefore unsuitable. Meanwhile, Bagthala residents argue their bazaar is the most central point for all municipalities under Constituency No. 2 and would be the most accessible location.

Initially, the Ministry of Home Affairs had instructed the district administration office to establish the office in Deura Bazaar. After pressure from Jhota residents, a second letter was sent asking for a feasibility study. “After we sent the feasibility study for Jhota, a letter arrived from the ministry asking us to facilitate an agreement between the two sides,” said Satya Kumari Joshi, assistant chief district officer of Bajhang. “When we mediated, both sides initially agreed to abide by the ministry’s decision. But when one side blocked the roads, saying they would not accept the decision, the ministry could not make a final call due to the dispute.”

Joshi said that as the office remains stalled due to internal conflict, residents of lower Bajhang continue to face long travel times, high costs and administrative difficulties. She said that while the state is ready to provide the service, people are still forced to spend days and large sums to obtain citizenship certificates. She added that political leadership must help broker a consensus to establish the office quickly.

Ain Bahadur Mahar, a member of the House of Representatives from Bajhang, said efforts are underway to reach an agreement. “Wherever it is located, it will be within Kedarsyu Rural Municipality. We are trying to convince them not to deprive themselves of state services by fighting among themselves,” he said. “An agreement will hopefully be reached soon. If not, everyone must accept the ministry’s decision. They must be careful not to lose the facility altogether.” He added that discussions are ongoing with local political leaders and intellectuals.