Kathmandu, October 1

The government has made an amendment to the Constituency Development Programme (Operation Procedure) Rules, 2002 to permit members of Parliament to carry out development programme in the concerned constituency of a district where he/she was elected from.

As per the sixth amendment to the rules, any MP elected either under the first-past-the-post electoral system or nominated under proportional representation may select any constituency of a district of his/her choice to operate the programme.

The MP will be allowed to act as a programme director of the development activities, a member of management committee and coordinator of supervision and monitoring committee only in a case where he/she allocates 51 per cent or more of the total budget received for the programme.

The remaining amount after such allocation may be distributed to any other constituency of the district for the purpose of development programme.

The programme will be selected by the MP or his/her representative. While selecting the programme, the MP or his/her representative will be required to select one programme amounting to no less than one million rupees and up to 20 programmes worth over Rs 100,000 which could be completed within a year. For this, the MP should chalk out an implementation schedule and submit it to the office of the concerned District Development Committee by the end of Kartik (mid-November) of each fiscal.

“If the MP fails to select a programme or project and submit the same to the DDC within the time-frame for any reason whatsoever, the concerned authority may extend the period not exceeding one month,” said the new amendment.

The programmes that may be selected include river, gorge and landslide control and irrigation; construction and upgradation of roads; water supply, sanitation, waste management and construction of landfill site; project concerning school, library and sports; biodiversity and environmental protection; renewable energy, micro hydropower and electrification; construction of health post, maternity home, community building, old age home, orphanage, rehabilitation centre and agri-product collection centre; and income generating and skill training programmes.

“No MP shall use the amount for his private purpose, provide it to political parties and their sister organisations, and distribute it to non-governmental organisations and persons,” states the law.