Government Offices Rise from the Ashes, but Reconstruction Challenges Remain

Dhangadhi: Government offices in Kailali that were set on fire during the Genji movement on Bhadra 23 and 24 last year have returned to their previous state. Following renovation and reconstruction, the offices have resumed service delivery as before. However, most government offices still require physical reconstruction.

During the movement, 137 buildings were set on fire and vandalized in Kailali. Of these, 103 were government office buildings, 17 were political party offices, 12 were private buildings belonging to the general public, and five were police offices.

A red sticker declaring them unusable was placed on 11 government buildings that were set on fire and vandalized. Kailali Assistant Chief District Officer Khadanand Khatri said all government offices are currently providing full services after renovation and reconstruction of some offices.

“The services of any office are not affected due to lack of infrastructure at present,” he said.

200 prisoners still absconding
A total of 202 prisoners, including 19 Indian nationals, who escaped from Kailali Jail on Bhadra 24 during the Genji movement are still absconding. The District Administration Office has been urging the escaped prisoners to return to the prison.

After protesters vandalized and damaged the prison, 665 of the 667 prisoners escaped. Only two prisoners remained: one who had been admitted to hospital due to illness and another who did not leave the prison.

Acting Jailer Basanta Joshi said 463 of the escaped prisoners have returned to the prison so far. He said some of those who returned have already served their remaining sentences.

The prison administration office, which was vandalized by protesters, has been repaired. Similarly, a large wall has been constructed outside the prison for security. Joshi said the contract process for constructing a new building to house prisoners is also underway.

According to Belauri Samachardata, during the Genji movement, the houses of 12 leaders of Kanchanpur, 25 government office buildings, five party offices, four business centers and more than a dozen vehicles belonging to 11 government offices were set on fire and vandalized. In addition, protesters had taken 350 prisoners out of Kanchanpur Jail.

Kanchanpur Jail has stated that 85 of the escaped prisoners are still absconding. According to Ramdutt Joshi, acting chief of the prison administration, prisoners who had yet to serve their normal sentences have returned to the prison, while those who escaped after committing heinous crimes have not been contacted. Of these, 17 are citizens of neighboring India. Police have stated that they are searching for them.

According to the District Police Office, protesters vandalized and set fire to all 12 wards, including the Shuklaphanta Municipality Office. Mohan Phulara, Information Officer of Shuklaphanta Municipality, said repairs to all the structures that were set on fire and vandalized have not yet been completed.

The municipality said Rs 6.6 million has been spent on cleaning and maintenance alone following the arson and vandalism. Municipality Information Officer Prem Bogati said Rs 4 million has been spent on reconstruction of the municipality’s main building and Rs 1.6 million on ward offices.

Protesters also set fire to and vandalized the house of former Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal in Bhimdatta Municipality-6, Aithpur. Former Chief Minister Rawal’s son Nitesh Rawal said repair work on the house has been completed following the arson and vandalism.

“Rs 3 million has been spent on repair and reconstruction so far,” he said.

Business has not recovered
Businessmen say commercial activities have yet to recover after commercial establishments were also subjected to arson and vandalism in the name of the Genji movement. Protesters vandalized and looted Hotel Opera, CMG Casino and Diamond Casino.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat, spokesperson for the District Police Office, said police have arrested and charged 21 people for vandalizing, setting fire to and looting private residences, government offices and vehicles in the name of the Genji movement. Police said they are searching for the 85 absconding prisoners.

Reconstruction of municipal buildings from internal resources
According to the Ghodaghodi news agency, reconstruction of local-level offices and structures in Kailali damaged by arson and vandalism during the Genji movement has begun using internal resources.

The greatest damage in Kailali was reported in Godavari, Gauriganga and Ghodaghodi municipalities. The municipal offices were vandalized and set on fire during the movement. Then-Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah had monitored the damaged structures on the spot and assured that the provincial government would support reconstruction. However, as the provincial government did not receive a budget for reconstruction, the municipalities have started reconstruction work using their own resources.

Ghodaghodi Municipality Mayor Khadak Bahadur Rawat said the damage to the municipality building, assembly hall and all 12 ward offices was assessed by a technician, with the damage estimated at around Rs 90 million.

According to Mayor Rawat, damage to tangible assets at the municipality office was estimated at Rs 35 million, while damage to infrastructure was estimated at Rs 70 million. Similarly, damage to tangible assets at the 12 ward offices was estimated at Rs 22 million and damage to infrastructure at Rs 20 million.

Although the federal and provincial governments were informed about the damage, the municipality reconstructed the buildings using internal resources and resumed services after not receiving a reconstruction budget.

“We have reconstructed the physical structure from internal sources. The office materials have been received as support from various donor agencies. Some materials have also been purchased by the municipality. All services are now fully operational,” he said.

Similarly, the municipality has stated that damage worth about Rs 90 million occurred in Godavari Municipality of Kailali. Damage worth about Rs 70 million has also been reported in Gauriganga Municipality.

Gauriganga Municipality Mayor Devidatta Kandel said the necessary equipment and materials for the office have been received from various donor agencies through assistance worth about Rs 10 million. He said the reconstruction of the building was carried out using the municipality’s internal resources.

“The complete reconstruction has not been completed yet. We have cut some non-priority expenditure plans from the current capital and used it for reconstruction from the supplementary budget,” he said.

—From Gorkhapatra