The Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC) said on Tuesday that it would be difficult to meet the mid-November deadline for submitting its final report.

The LLRC’s statement comes a day after an understanding between the commission and three major parties to resolve the disputes surrounding the criteria for restructuring of local bodies.

“Since the LLRC has to work from scratch in the changed context, it will be difficult for us to finalise and submit the report by the mid-November deadline,” said LLRC Coordinator Balananda Poudel at a press meet in the Capital.

An agreement was reached on Monday that the government would revise the terms of reference (ToR) of the LLRC in such a way that the area clusters (Ilakas) would be made “one of the bases”, instead of the “main basis”.

The government on September 27 had amended the LLRC’s ToR, as per which Ilakas, whose number stands at 927, were to be made the “main basis” while fixing the number of local units. The LLRC had taken exception to the government move.

'Since we have to work from scratch in the changed context, it will be difficult to finalise and submit the report by the mid-November deadline'

                               -Balananda Poudel coordinator, LLRC

The LLRC, formed in March in line with the constitutional provision, had in July proposed 565 local units (village and municipal councils).

However, political parties had expressed reservations about the LLRC proposal.

As per the commission’s demand, the parties on Monday had also agreed to withdraw the clause that sought to keep all 217 municipalities intact even after restructuring.

The LLRC has been given till mid-November to submit its final report to allow ample time to the Election Commission for preparations for local level elections which have been announced by the government for March.

The technical committees from 54 districts, coordinated by respective local development officers, have already submitted their reports, recommending the numbers and boundaries of the local units.

However, the reports now have to be sent back for revision, which could delay the LLRC’s work.

“We will ask all the districts to revise their recommendations based on new criteria,” said Poudel. “How fast we can finish our task will depend on the work of district level technical committees,” he added.