Ishwar Khanal

Kathmandu, July 5:

The local bodies in 18 districts, including all the five in the Karnali zone, are likely to be given full autonomy during the upcoming fiscal year. While the final decision to this effect is yet to be taken, the Ministry of Local Development is “thinking loudly to take the issue to the logical conclusion.” Once the final decision is taken, the local bodies — municipalities, DDCs and VDCs — of the 18 districts will have effective development works and projects. “At the initial phase, we are working out to implement this as a pilot project in only 18 districts,” Padam Raj Regmi, spokesperson at the ministry, said today, adding that this could be further extended to all remaining local bodies within three years at the earliest. This decentralisation policy, which will be implemented from the upcoming fiscal year, will allow the local bodies to enjoy their utmost autonomy to implement or carry out any development works and projects in their constituencies so that they can take utmost benefits. “This will be instrumental since local bodies are well aware of the local problems and the implications rather than at the central level,” Regmi told this daily. However, policy making, monitoring and evaluation and large-scale development infrastructure projects will be handled by the centre.