Kathmandu, May 30

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development  is preparing to issue a revised ToR for the local levels so as to inform them of the powers  of local levels guaranteed in the schedule of the constitution.

The ministry plans to issue a revised ToR for local levels so that the newly elected representatives can start their work before the local levels administration bill is passed by the Parliament.

“We had issued a ToR on March 7, but now that the local levels have elected representatives, we are preparing to issue a revised ToR,” said MoFALD Spokesperson Kedar Nath Sharma. He also said that the ToR will define the rights and duties of the representatives.

Sharma also said that the proposed ToR would further elaborate the rights of the local levels as defined by schedule -8 of the constitution.

Sharma also said that the provision of the ToR has also been included in the local levels administration bill.

Even though the constitution has given legislative powers to the newly formed municipalities and rural municipalities; the bill has provisioned that the local level should conduct its development work without bypassing the criteria set by the provincial and federal government.

The bill, which was registered in the Parliament Secretariat few weeks ago, has proposed to give comprehensive powers to local levels to conduct development works and   issue permits for construction of buildings. The local level can also make its own regulations on construction permits.

Clause 27 of the bill states that the municipalities and rural municipalities can set their own building codes within the limitations set by the National Building Code. Clause 28 of the bill states that the local levels have to incorporate the standard set by provincial and national governments while constructing and  managing roads, infrastructure, developing integrated housings, setting rules for  urban land use, planning and social services.

The bill also proposes to authorise local levels to fix the right of way of the road within their jurisdiction. The bill also provisions compensation to the land owner in case the local levels change the right of way.

Clause 50 of the bill provisions that the provinces fix tax rate for all kinds of vehicles, excluding rickshaws and auto rickshaws. As per the bill,  rate of taxes relating to  house registration, entertainment and extraction of  natural resources  such as sand, clinkers and stones will be fixed by the province and will be collected by the local levels. The bill proposes a committee formed by the provincial government, which will decide on the distribution of revenues.