Kathmandu, February 6

Local Bodies Restructuring Commission said it had been facing difficulties in preparing the report on special, protected and autonomous regions, as the government had not yet approved the report on local bodies.

Due to the government’s delay in endorsing the report, LRBC has not been able to send it to districts to discuss formation of special, protected and autonomous regions, said LBRC Chairman Balananda Paudel. He said the LBRC could not disclose the report before it is endorsed by the government.

Paudel said the report on local bodies should be sent to districts as special, protected and autonomous regions would be determined on the basis of local bodies recommended by the commission. The LBRC has completed data processing, literature review and consultations with experts and academicians on formation of special, protected and autonomous regions.

Paudel said it was unlikely for the commission to complete the remaining tasks within the deadline if the government further delayed endorsement of its report.

Expressing dissatisfaction with its content, the government has refused to endorse the report, saying further consultations were needed on the report among political parties.

Meanwhile, the government has formed a three-member task force to study the report prepared by the constitutional body to address the demands put forth by Madhesi parties. LBRC members, however, said change in the report prepared by the commission would only complicate the task of state restructuring. They said change in the report would also make civic polls uncertain.  “It would be unconstitutional if the report is modified,” said LBRC member Sunil Ranjan Singh.

The constitutional body had submitted the report on number and boundaries of local bodies to the government on January 6. Apart from determining the number and boundaries of local bodies, LBRC is mandated to prepare reports on special, protected and autonomous regions, structure of the public administration in federal setup and their economic feasibility by March 13.