Miscellaneous
12 Tarai districts to get 22 more local units
The government has decided to increase the number of local units in 12 districts along the plains and give Birgunj and Biratangar the status of metropolis.The government has decided to increase the number of local units in 12 districts along the plains and give Birgunj and Biratangar the status of metropolis.
A taskforce led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar had recommended adding 22 local units in Provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7 and making the two cities in the eastern region metropolises.
A Cabinet meeting on Monday approved the recommendation.
The Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), formed after the merger of six agitating Madhes-based parties, had been demanding that the number of local units be increased along the plains.
The number of local units across the country now will be 766. Local elections in 283 units of 34 districts of Provinces 3, 4 and 6 were held on May 14 and voting in remaining Provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7 is scheduled for June 14.
The Cabinet also decided to elevate 24 village councils (rural municipalities) of nine Tarai districts to the status of municipalities in line with the recommendation made by the Gachhadar-led taskforce.
The decision though is said to have been taken after consultation with the Madhes-based parties, their official position is yet to come. A meeting of the RJPN scheduled for Wednesday is likely to take a decision on the development.
Monday’s Cabinet meeting decided to add three units each in Sarlahi, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, and Kapilvastu; two each in Sunsari and Rautahat and one each in Parsa, Dhanusha, Bara, Saptari, Kailali and Banke.
The Local Level Restructuring Commission earlier on January 6 had recommended 744 local units across the country for the new federal set-up. The first phase of local elections was held on May 14 under the same structure. The decision to increase the number of local units along the plains follows pressure from the agitating Madhes-based parties which have also been calling for an amendment to the constitution before the June 14 polls.
Eleven village councils in Rautahat, three in Mahottari, two each in Banke, Rupandehi and Jhapa and one each in Siraha, Dhanusha, Bara and Kailali will be made municipalities.