Kathmandu, February 27

The government task force led by Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Pandey today held discussion with the local development officers of eight districts of province-2 about increasing the number of local bodies in that province.

The three-member task force had sought suggestions from the LDOs about how they could increase the numbers of local bodies in Province-2.

In response, the LDO’s suggested that the number of the local bodies could be increased on the basis of population and geography and existing Ilakas, according to Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development Kedar Bahadur Adhikari.

“We are still working to increase the number of local bodies in Province-2,” said Adhikari. He said that the government panel had not reached any conclusion and was working till late evening today.

As per the mandate, the government task force has to submit its report on Tuesday to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Minister for Industry Nabindra Raj Joshi, who is also a member of the government panel, said that they will submit the report at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.

Earlier, the government had extended the tenure of the task force formed to study the report prepared by the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission and asked it to recommend increasing the number of local bodies in Province-2.

Several agitating forces, including Madhesi parties, have protested against the report prepared by the LBRC and demanded that the government revise it.

The LBRC had submitted its report on January 6, suggesting creation of 719 local bodies across the country.

Meanwhile, the LBRC said that chances of completing the report on special, protected and autonomous regions within the deadline was very slim, as the commission could not do anything until the government provide a copy of the endorsed report on the number and boundaries of local bodies.

The constitutional body said that it had less than two weeks to complete the remaining tasks on special, protected and autonomous regions as its had been halted after the government formed a task force to revise its report on the numbers and boundaries of local bodies.

The commission has to complete its report on special, protected and autonomous regions, structure of the public administration in the federal model and their economic feasibility by March 13 as per the constitutional deadline.

“Chances of completing the remaining tasks within the deadline are very slim,” said LBRC member Neeraj Shah. He said the government has neither provided the data sought by the commission nor does it show any urgency to accept the report prepared by it.