Tikapur Science and Technology University Plan in Limbo
The Sudurpashchim Province government’s plan to establish the Tikapur Science and Technology University in Tikapur, Kailali, has fallen into uncertainty.
The project has been left in limbo because the legal process has not moved forward despite budget allocations for the past three years, mainly due to political wrangling and the government’s low priority.
With the goal of turning Tikapur into a hub of technical education, the provincial government registered a bill related to the university at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat on Chaitra 3, 2081. Although the bill was distributed to provincial lawmakers on Chaitra 17, the process has stalled since then.
The main reason behind the delay appears to be a dispute over regional balance. According to Dharmaraj Pathak, Chair of the Social Development Committee of the Provincial Assembly, some lawmakers opposed the move, arguing that if major projects are concentrated only in Tarai districts, the development of hill districts would be overshadowed.
After demands were raised for balanced development between the hill and Tarai regions, the provincial government stepped back from moving the bill forward.
For the establishment of the university, the government has allocated Rs 5 crore 50 lakh in the current fiscal year for physical infrastructure construction and Rs 50 lakh for operation and management. In the previous fiscal year as well, Rs 5 crore had been allocated. However, no work was carried out.
According to the Ministry of Social Development, the allocated funds could not be spent because the law required to operate the university has not been enacted.
“The bill could not move forward because political consensus could not be reached. As a result, even though the budget has been allocated, the legal basis for implementation has not been prepared,” an official said.
At present, uncertainty remains among the provincial government and political parties over whether the university will be built in Tikapur itself or whether another location will be selected.
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