Valley
Mayor Shakya blames limited rights for failure
Mayor of Kathmandu Bidya Sundar Shakya has conceded his failure to fulfil his electoral promise of accomplishing 101 works in 100 days.Anup Ojha
Mayor of Kathmandu Bidya Sundar Shakya has conceded his failure to fulfil his electoral promise of accomplishing 101 works in 100 days.
But the 100-day flop show was not his doing alone, Shakya said on Thursday, noting that the absence of law allowing local bodies to exercise all the authority bestowed upon them by the constitution kept the mayor’s office from carrying out various development works.
“It is because the rights given by the constitution to the local bodies have not been implemented. The central government still controls many rights,” he explained to the press.
The constitution has an exclusive list of 22 powers to be exercised by local councils. The mayor of Kathmandu reckons unless those powers are fully entrusted to his office, the vision he has for the metropolis are not going to take off.
Shakya also presented the 100 days’ progress report on the occasion. However, most of the achievements mentioned in the report are still work in progress.
A few works accomplished by the metropolis so far include distribution of Rs 12,000 elderly social security allowance and free health check-up of 489 senior citizens, and installation of 1,776 solar-powered lamps in all 32 wards.
Mayor Shakya’s electoral promise to solve the problem of traffic congestion in Kathmandu has seen no perceptible improvement so far.
Similarly, the “Clean City Campaign,” one of the highlights in the progress report, boasts that 1,095 metric tonnes of solid wastes were collected. However, for the last two weeks, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been unable to manage the city’s garbage due to protest of locals living near the waste disposal site at Nuwakot’s Sisdole, and the poor condition of the road leading to the place.
The report states that the metropolis has installed new drainage pipes at 84 places and fixed the drainage issues at 1,507 places.
The KMC has also announced its future plans in the report, including installation of surveillance cameras in every ward office to monitor corruption and work regulations, setting up internet hotspots at tourist sites, parks and public spaces, and running 20 city buses.
Bibeksheel Sajha not pleased by mayor’s first 100 days
Bibeksheel Sajha Party has criticised Mayor Shakya for his poor show during his first 100 days in office.
The mayor has nothing to show for it, said Bibeksheel Sajha leader Ranju Darshana, who was also a contender in the mayoral race.
“Decisions like distributing smart phones to the officials and riding luxury cars have aroused frustration and anger among people,” she said.
Kishor Thapa, another party leader and mayoral candidate in the May 14 elections, said: “Although a period of 100 days was not enough to bring about crucial change or development, Mayor Shakya could have at least effected small changes which could have been felt by the public.”