Nepalgunj, Mar. 10: The regional museum set up in Birendranagar Municipality in Surkhet, headquarters of the Mid-Western Region, as per the concept of regional development has not yet taken shape.

The museum established in 2045 B.S. neither possesses an adequate variety of materials nor is it open to the public.

So far the costumes of the Thakuri, Tharu, Magar, Damai, Raute and Badi communities and their household appliances and some 58 pieces of ornaments have been collected by the museum, its chief Purushotam Acharya said.

The office has a total staff of eight including a non-gazetted first class level office chief, an assistant accountant, three other subordinate staff and two peons.

Experts opines that the museum will remain meaningless if it is not able to reflect the cultural diversities of the region in the form of costumes, art and lifestyle.

The museum has not developed and expanded to a desirable level due to shortage of funds, it is learnt.

It spends around Rs. 400 thousand annually under administrative and general heads and the budget is determined at the central level, it is stated.

It received a developmental budget of Rs. 100,000 last fiscal year.

Construction of the museum building began in 2039 B.S. and was  completed at a cost of Rs. 946,000. It is currently under the ownership of Surkhet Valley Town Development Committee.

It is said that the building leaks due to lack of proper maintenance.

The museum is scheduled to hold an exhibition during the current fiscal year.