KATHMANDU, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's Province 5 has decided on its name and permanent capital, becoming the fifth province to do so out of seven after Nepal adopted federalism through a new constitution in 2015.
The provincial assembly, also known as provincial parliament, voted on Tuesday to make Deukhuri Valley of Dang district, which lies in the western side of the province, as its capital and name the province as Lumbini.
Butwal city in the eastern side of the province was declared as temporary capital of the province in January 2018 after the elections to the provincial assembly in 2017.
In the meeting of the provincial assembly, the provincial government's proposal on the permanent capital and name secured more than two thirds of the votes, and Chairperson of the provincial assembly Purna Bahadur Gharti declared the capital and name of the province.
Due to the competing interests of the political leaders from Butwal and Dang, the task of designating the capital and naming the province had been delayed for nearly three years after the provincial assembly elections in 2017.
Lila Giri, minister for industry, tourism, forest and environment at the province 5, told Xinhua on Wednesday morning that the provincial capital was determined based on the principle of balanced development of the province.
"Butwal is already economically developed compared to Deukhuri and not having administrative capital in Butwal won't hinder its development," Giri said.
The provincial government announced that Butwal would be developed as the economic capital of the province.
Although Deukhuri was declared as the capital, the administrative works will not move there immediately. According to Minister Giri, it may take as long as 10 years to run the administration from the newly announced capital where the new administrative structure and infrastructure need to be developed before moving the administrative works there.
Province 1 in eastern Nepal and Province 2 in southeastern Nepal are yet to declare their permanent capitals and names. Enditem
