KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 3
The federal government has selected 118 local levels for operation of programmes under the 'Local Level Administrative Building Infrastructure Development Programme Operating Procedure, 2021' in the running fiscal. A total of 221 local levels were selected in the last fiscal.
According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, a budget of Rs 871 million was allocated to the selected local levels for this fiscal.
The programme aims to deliver services to citizens in a more effective manner through development and construction of physical infrastructure required for local governments.
This programme has been carried out with the cost participation of the federal and local governments. 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.
However, the government may provide additional grants to rural municipalities and municipalities in remote areas, which are at the bottom of the Human Development Index.
As per the MoFAGA, 118 local levels have been provided with a budget ranging from Rs 2 million to Rs 12 million each for the current fiscal based on the proposals submitted by them. The local levels are required to submit a proposal to the Department of Local Infrastructure for construction of administrative building. The department prioritises the programme on the basis of proposals received from the local levels and submits them to a six-member steering committee headed by the chief of Planning and Development Assistance Division at the MoFAGA for approval.
"The local levels have 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 the local art and culture. The local level may also obtain necessary consultancy service while preparing the DPR.
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 construction of infrastructure on the basis of population, number of elected people's representatives, size of human resources, and geographical location.
Procurement proceedings for construction of infrastructure should be consistent with the existing Public Procurement Act and Rules.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 4, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
