With the government publishing the report on local level restructuring in Nepal Gazette on Friday, the country’s village development committees and municipalities have been replaced by 744 local units.
With the government publishing the report on local level restructuring in Nepal Gazette on Friday, the country’s village development committees and municipalities have been replaced by 744 local units.
Now onwards, there exist four metropolises, 13 sub-metropolises, 246 municipal councils, 481 village councils and 6,680 wards across the country in place of 3,157 VDCs and 217 municipalities that came into existence after the reinstatement of democracy in 1990.
The government in March last year had formed the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC) to determine the number and boundaries of local units in the new federal set-up.
The LLRC on January 6 had submitted its report to the government, recommending 719 local units.
But after the Madhes-based parties objected to the LLRC recommendations, the government in February had formed a ministerial taskforce to review and revise the report.
The taskforce had recommended adding 25 more units—21 in eight districts of Province 2, two in Kathmandu and one each in Manang and Bajhang districts—increasing the number of local units to 744, the ceiling set by the LLRC.
“The new local level units have come into force from Friday,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Kamal Thapa, who was appointed and sworn in on Thursday only, said at a press meet on Friday. He claimed that as the number of local units has been increased, the Madhes-based parties will participate in local level elections scheduled for May 14. He also claimed that the government can still revise the new structures if that makes agitating parties take part in polls.
“We joined the government for timely elections bringing all the parties on board,” Thapa added.
Under the new local level set-up, the District Development Committees have been converted into District Assemblies.
Though the local level units have come into existence, the LLRC is yet to determine special and reserved areas for the marginalised communities while demarcating local units as envisioned by the constitution. The LLRC’s term ends on March 14.
TIMELINE
March 14, ’16: Govt forms Local Level Restructuring Commission
Jan 6, ’17: Commission submits its report to govt recommending 719 local units across the country
Feb 2: Govt forms taskforce to revise report after objection from Madhes-based parties which had obstructed LLRC from carrying out works in Province 2
March 5: Cabinet approves taskforce’s recommendation of adding 25 units—21 in Province 2, two in Kathmandu and one each in Manang and Bajhang
March 10: The revised report on local level restructuring published in Nepal Gazette, marking its implementation which means 3,157 VDCs and 217 municipalities are replaced by 744 local units
Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice.
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