Three-week lockout continues at Surnaya Rural Municipality Office in Baitadi

Baitadi: The lockout at the Surnaya Rural Municipality office in Baitadi has continued for three weeks, disrupting regular service delivery. Youths associated with the Jenji group had locked the office on Asoj 24, demanding access to information from the rural municipality.

The group has remained firm in its stance, refusing to lift the lockout until the information they requested is provided. As a result, locals have been deprived of essential municipal services. Resident JV Kunwar said that a timely solution is necessary to ease the inconvenience faced by the public.

“The municipality should address the legitimate demands raised by the Jenji group,” Kunwar said. “The problem began when officials failed to provide the requested information on time. This issue must be discussed thoroughly, and a prompt resolution is essential. Services to the general public should not be disrupted.”

Although the rural municipality has held several rounds of talks to reopen the office, no agreement has yet been reached. Vice-chairperson of the rural municipality, Manju Bohara, said discussions are ongoing but some points of contention remain unresolved.

Jenji group leader Vishal Bhatta stated that their demands aim to promote transparency and good governance in the rural municipality. He said that the authorities must fulfill their commitments in the presence of the municipality’s top officials and district representatives.

“Our demands should be met in the presence of the rural municipality chairperson, vice-chairperson, chief administrative officer, accountant, and information officer, along with representatives from the district administration and district coordination committee,” Bhatta said. “Some of the demands can be fulfilled immediately, while others can be implemented within a set timeframe. Unless this happens, we will not lift the lockout.”

He also alleged that the executive officials have not taken their demands seriously.