Pokhara, May 28

Chiefs of rural municipalities in Kaski have complained that they cannot contribute significantly to meet people’s expectations for want of clear local law.

“We have not been able to satisfy civilians due to lack of law in the local level though we had said the rights of Singha Durbar were given to the local governments. Service seekers have not been able to enjoy their rights and services at their doorsteps,” said the chairpersons of the rural municipalities.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Democracy Resource Centre in Pokhara today, Madi Rural Municipality Chairperson Bed Bahadur Gurung said that they could not meet people’s expectations for want of clear law in first one year after they were elected. “Even plans could not move ahead due to lack of technical employees. The budget has been spent only on training and symposium instead of development and prosperity,” he argued.

Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairperson Yuba Raj Kunwar argued that the traditional centralised development system was slowing down development projects. “Different contradictory acts hinder development projects. Everybody wishes for development but without clear laws and decisive authority this is not possible,” complained Kunwar.

Rupa Rural Municipality Chairperson Nawaraj Ojha said that they had failed to proceed with a large number of projects due to lack of experts and local laws. He stressed the need to draft clear laws at the earliest.

Nepal Communist Party Central member Srinath Baral underscored the need to draft laws along with preparing masterplan for development and prosperity while former president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries Ananda Raj Mulmi stressed that the local government should be strong enough to carry on the developmental projects effectively.