Parties prepare six-Pradesh map

KATHMANDU: As top leaders of major political parties are expediting talks for demarcation of federal units in the new constitution, they have prepared a tentative map of six Pradeshes, sources said.

Leaders of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic may sign a deal on the map if the current development is anything to go by, the sources added.

The first Pradesh will include all districts of Mechi and Koshi zones as well as Solukhumbu, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga and Khotang of Sagarmath zone, according to the map.

Eight Tarai districts – Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari – are kept in the second Pradesh. It is the only Pradesh which does not include any hilly region.

All districts of Bagmati zone, Makawanpur and Chitwan of Narayani zone and Sindhuli, Dolakha and Ramechhap districts of Janakpur zone will constitute the third Pradesh, according to the plan.

A part of Nawalparasi district, east of Daunne, will be split and joined into the fourth Pradesh along with all districts of Gandaki and Dhawalagiri zones. Only eastern part of Baglung district will be included in this Pradesh.

Likewise, the fifth Pradesh will include all districts of Rapti and Lumbini zones, including western parts of Nawalparasi and Baglung districts, as well as Banke and Bardiya of Bheri zone.

According to the map, the  sixth Pradesh will include all districts of Seti, Mahakali and Karnali zones as well as Surkhet, Dailekh and Jajarkot of Bheri zone.

Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting earlier called for 8 pm today has been rescheduled for 1 pm on Sunday. The Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the CA has to endorse the agreement before tabling it at the CA.