Valley
MoFALD issues fresh mandate to commission
The Ministry of Local Development and Federal Affairs (MoFALD) on Friday issued a new mandate to the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC), as per which the commission can split the area clusters (Ilakas) or merge two or more ofthem while determining the number of and boundaries of local units.The Ministry of Local Development and Federal Affairs (MoFALD) on Friday issued a new mandate to the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC), as per which the commission can split the area clusters (Ilakas) or merge two or more of them while determining the number of and boundaries of local units.
There are 927 Ilakas across the country.
The LLRC, formed in March in line with a constitutional provision, had in July proposed 565 local units across the country. But political parties, the Nepali Congress in particular, had taken exception to the LLRC proposal, saying the number was too less and that it would be difficult for the general public to access services if the number was kept at 565. The Madhes-based parties had also objected to the proposal.
Amid dispute over the number of local units, a meeting of three major parties on September 25 reached an understanding to make the area clusters (Ilakas) the main basis for fixing the number of local units. The government on September 27 revised the terms of reference of the LLRC in line with the three-party decision, much to the chagrin of the LLRC, which said “neither the government nor political parties can dictate” a constitutional body. Following LLRC’s objection, an agreement was reached on October 3 that
the Ilakas would be made “one of the bases” instead of the “main basis” while fixing the number of local units.
As per the new mandate issued on Friday, the LLRC can make population and geography the basis while splitting or merging the Ilakas. Any municipality that has command area of more than one Ilaka can be split, according to the new mandate.
Similarly while proposing the special, autonomous or conserved areas, the LLRC can take the entire municipality or village development committee or a ward into consideration.
The LLRC has till mid-November to submit its report, but it has said it will be difficult to meet the deadline.