Kathmandu, August 25

Although the ruling parties, including the Nepali Congress, are saying there should be more than 1,000 local bodies, the Local Bodies’ Restructuring Commission says drastic change in number of local bodies is not possible.

The LBRC unveiled its plan to create 565 local bodies across the country which drew flak from the Untied Democratic Madhesi Front and even the ruling parties. The UDMF says the LBRC has proposed less number of local bodies in Madhes where more than half of the population lives.

Those parties that oppose the LBRC’s proposal to create 565 local bodies say that fewer local units will put additional economic burden on the service seekers and will also increase their travel time to reach.

LBRC Chairperson Balananda Paudel said   the LBRC fixed the number of local bodies at 565 mainly on grounds of powers and duties those local bodies were suppose to fulfil and if the number was increased significantly, the newly created local bodies would not be able to discharge constitutionally prescribed duties and exercise their powers.

“The constitution does not allow us to haphazardly increase or decrease number of local bodies. Had that been the case, it would have been stipulated in the constitution,” Paudel said.

He said the LBRC had justification for its plan to create 565 local bodies.

Paudel said the LBRC was a constitutional commission and it would work as per the mandate of the constitution. He said local bodies would not be able to use their powers if the LBRC increased their number significantly.

Paudel said if the government changed the terms of reference, the LBRC would have difficulty in completing the assigned task on time.

Another member of the LBRC, Advocate Sunil Ranjan Singh, said the LBRC was a constitutional body with a mandate of fixing the number and boundaries of local bodies, and therefore, the LBRC could not be dictated by the government.

Singh said the constitution gave many powers to local bodies that needed to be taken into account while fixing the number of local bodies.

“We might be able to add 50 local bodies at the most but we cannot the number 1,000 or 1,500 as argued by some,” Singh said and added that the LBRC could, however, make changes in its plan to declare autonomous areas, special areas and protected areas if the government so wanted.

He said the LBRC accepted the government’s proposal to postpone its work for 15 days, as it also wanted the parties to forge consensus on the matter.

Cadres associated with the UDMF have halted LBRC work in six-seven districts of Madhes, according to LBRC sources.

Locals in hill district of Rasuwa have also created hurdles for the LBRC.