By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, Jhapa, July 24: A community laboratory set up for conducting test for the novel corona virus or SARS-CoV-2 has been denied permission to operate here at Damak.

With over Rs. 10 million raised as donation from the public, a fully equipped laboratory has been set up at the community building located in Kankai Municipality.

The fund was raised after 'one for one campaign' which was initiated to help those in difficult situation during the localdown period made a public appeal for aid to establish a laboratory for testing infection of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. The campaign was started under coordination of Mahendra Giri, executive director of Sahara Nepal Cooperative.

Social Development Minister of the provincial government of Province 1, Jeevan Ghimire, had even assured necessary help for establishing the lab and encouraged the campaign to move forward the work to set up the lab, according to the one for one campaign.

However, lately, Provincial government has said that only Mechi Hospital, a government hospital, could be permitted to conduct COVID-19 testing in Jhapa district, and it has prompted debate over the investment and preparation for running the lab funded by the public donation.

A lot investment has been made in the lab even from cooperative sector in the district.

Coordinator Giri said that initiatives were taken to run the community lab keeping under the Mechi Hospital.

"The lab set up for testing the novel corona virus infection is to be run by the government, not by us," said Giri, "We will hand it over to the Provincial government after all the necessary preparations are made by the community."

Hover, the government is yet to respond to whether it will take responsibility to run the lab or not.

Uddhav Thapa, Jhapa district president of the Nepali Congress, stood for permission to the lab saying there was no point in deny permission after the lab ready. "If it was stopped when initiated, at least the investment could have been saved. Now, as it is set up, it should be allowed to operate."

Rajendra Pokharel, Chief of Kankai Municipality, said it was illogical to deny permission to operate at the last hour when the lab is almost ready. He said they would hold talks with the federal as well as provincial governments on the issue. "We are making efforts to ensure the corona virus testing lab is operated here and it is possible."