KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 2
The government issued the 'Local Level Administrative Building Infrastructure Development Programme Operating Procedure-2021' to deliver services in a more effective manner through development and construction of physical infrastructure required for local governments.
The procedure was issued after the Cabinet gave its nod on Thursday. This programme will be carried out with cost participation of the federal and local governments, according to a notice published by the MoFAGA on its website today.
As per the procedure, a local level will have to submit a proposal to the Department of Local Infrastructure by mid-January of each fiscal for construction of administrative building.
"The department will prioritise projects on the basis of proposals received from the local levels and submit them to a six-member steering committee headed by the chief of Planning and Development Assistance Division at the MoFAGA for approval," it says.
While submitting a proposal to the department, the local level will have to commit to cost participation. As per the procedure, a rural municipality will have to contribute at least 40 per cent of the total cost, municipality (at least 50 per cent) and sub-metropolitan city (at least 60 per cent) depending on inland revenue capacity and availability of physical infrastructure of the local level.
The project cost shall not exceed Rs 90 million for rural municipality, Rs 120 million for municipality and Rs 150 million for a sub-metropolitan city. The amount to be borne by the Government of Nepal shall be 60 per cent for the rural municipality, 50 per cent for municipality and 40 per cent for sub-metropolis. However, the government may provide additional grants to rural municipalities and municipalities of remote areas, which are at the bottom of the Human Development Index.
Similarly, the local levels are required to bear the deficit amount for construction of administrative building if the budget allocated by the government is not sufficient to complete the project. The local levels need to prepare a cost estimate for the construction of infrastructure according to population, number of elected people's representatives, size of human resources and geographical location.
"The local levels has to arrange land on their own for project development," the procedure reads. Once the project is approved, the local level concerned has to prepare a detailed project report to reflect local art and culture. The local level may also obtain necessary consultancy service while preparing the DPR.
The DPR should be prepared on the basis of soil testing of the project site, National Building Code and standards of office chambers for office-bearers and employees. Procurement proceedings for construction of infrastructure shall be consistent with the existing Public Procurement Act and Rules.
"The local levels must arrange a technical team with at least one engineer for supervision of construction work on a regular basis to ensure quality standard of the project," the procedure says. Though the procedure also has a provision of design of the administrative building, the local levels may prepare design on their own as per requirement.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 3, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
