Sudurpaschim capital plan stalled for years amid legal, political deadlock

Seven years after lawmakers formally designated Godawari in Kailali as the permanent capital of Sudurpaschim Province, the decision remains unimplemented. The Provincial Assembly had approved Teghari in Godawari Municipality as the site in September 2018 with a two-thirds majority. The provincial government even allocated budgets for infrastructure development in two consecutive fiscal years.

However, the province continues to operate from temporary offices in Dhangadhi, the designated temporary capital. The decision faced immediate opposition from the Nepali Congress, which boycotted the assembly session. Subsequently, petitions were filed at the Supreme Court, arguing that establishing the capital in Godawari would necessitate clearing forest land and destroy a biological corridor.

The case is still pending, with the province's attorney general stating that while the court did not issue a stay order, progress has been minimal. Former Attorney General Kulananda Upadhyaya noted that legal proceedings are not the primary obstacle, but rather the lack of land use permission. "The court has not issued a stay order. The issue is not the case, but the lack of land use permission," he said.

Despite these hurdles, no government has taken decisive steps to implement the capital plan. Lawmakers have raised the issue sporadically, but without sustained effort. The provincial government had formally requested the federal Ministry of Forests and the Prime Minister’s Office in January 2019 for permission to use 444 bighas (301 hectares) of land in the designated area, specifying that only the required portion would be utilized.

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The court has not issued a stay order. The issue is not the case, but the lack of land use permission.