DHANGADHI, July 21: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, seven holding centers, each with a capacity of 1,000 beds, were constructed across the country to isolate people returning from India. Of these, two were built in Sudurpaschim Province—one in Trinagar, Kailali, and the other in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur. However, by the time these facilities, built at a cost of millions of rupees, were completed, the pandemic had already subsided, leaving them unused.
Despite their potential for multipurpose use, the structures, which remain under the care of the Nepali Army, have been deteriorating due to the federal government's inaction. Although various committees and subcommittees have been formed, studies conducted, and reports prepared on the use of the holding centers in different districts, none of the recommendations has been implemented.
One of the holding centers is located in Trinagar, Ward No. 3 of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, near the border crossing on the banks of the Mohana River. According to the Kailali District Administration Office, it was constructed in fiscal year 2021/22 at a cost of Rs 288.1 million. Construction began on June 17, 2021, after the contract was awarded.
By the time the holding center was completed in May-June 2022, the pandemic had ended, and the facility was no longer needed. The complex comprises 50 blocks containing quarantine rooms, doctors' quarters, bathrooms and kitchens, but all of them have remained unused. Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City has stated that the federal government has yet to grant permission to operate a community hospital there despite repeated written requests.
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Raj Bahadur Ayer, ward chairperson of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-3, said the holding center, which cost nearly Rs 290 million to build and required the clearing of forest land, should not have been left unused. The structure was built on land occupied from the Gyanjyoti and Pragatishil Community Forests. He said local residents are disappointed that the facility, built after trees they had nurtured were felled, has remained idle.
He claimed that the federal government had shown no interest even after the municipality sought permission to establish a technical college or a hospital at the site.
"If the federal government hands it over to the municipality, we can make plans to operate a technical college or a hospital," he said. "Even if it is converted into a technical college or hospital, it can still be used by the general public during emergencies and disasters."
Ayer said the future of the structure lies in the hands of the federal government rather than the provincial or local governments. He said he and the mayor had met then-Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka to draw his attention to the issue. He added that the structure has been falling into disrepair after remaining unused for years and urged the federal government to hand it over to the provincial or local government as soon as possible.
"All the infrastructure necessary to operate a hospital is already in place. No other hospital in Sudurpaschim has this kind of infrastructure," he said, adding that the facility already has oxygen and other essential equipment. According to the local government, the facility could also be converted into a maternity hospital or a treatment center for senior citizens or children.
Chief District Officer of Kailali Hiralal Regmi said the holding center remains under the protection of the Nepali Army. He said the facility is being preserved for use during public emergencies such as pandemics.
"The Nepali Army is keeping the center under its protection because it may be needed during extraordinary situations rather than under normal circumstances," he said. "Such infrastructure is necessary during major emergencies, so it is not being used for routine purposes."
Another holding center was constructed in Ward No. 18 of Bhimdatta Municipality in Kanchanpur, covering an area of 27,500 square meters. Built at a cost of Rs 299.9 million, the complex consists of 51 structures, including 22 accommodation blocks with 50 beds each, three kitchens, 12 dining halls and 22 bathrooms. It also has 22 attached bathrooms, 15 kitchens, two doctors' rooms, a quarantine room and beds capable of accommodating up to 1,000 people.
Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur Madan Koirala said the holding center will remain under the protection of the Nepali Army. He added that Army personnel deployed to construct the Mahakali River embankment are currently stationed there. According to him, the Army has kept the facility ready for use during floods, landslides and other disasters.
Padam Singh Bogati, mayor of Bhimdatta Municipality, said the Army has continued to look after the holding center instead of handing it over to the local government.
He said that if the facility were handed over to the municipality, plans could be developed to utilize it effectively. All seven holding centers across the country were built by the Nepali Army under contract and remain under its custody. The holding centers in Mahendranagar, Trinagar, Biratnagar, Jhapa, Birgunj, Kapilvastu and Nepalgunj, each with a capacity of 1,000 beds and built at a cost of millions of rupees, remain unused.
