Pokhara, February 24

If everything goes as planned, ten of the 32 VDCs of Kaski will soon get the status of municipality within the current fiscal.

The concept was mooted by Federal Affairs and Local Development Ministry while the concerned villages gave their nod.

According to the proposal, Kaskikot, Dhikurpokhari and Lumle VDCs have sent a letter to the development ministry through the District Development Office, asking it to initiate the process of forming a separate Kassep Municipality.

The proposal was ratified by the concerned VDC secretaries, political mechanism representatives and village council representatives before it was sent to the development ministry.

The three VDCs have a population of 17,406 in aggregate, against the minimum requirement of 10,000 persons deemed necessary to declare an area a municipality.

Similarly, while Puranchaur and Mauja VDCs have asked to be included in the existing Pokhara sub-metropolis, Majhthana, Rupakot, Deurali, Hanshapur and Thumki have consented to a merger with Lekhnath municipality.

If the proposals are approved as planned Kaski will have three municipalities and 22 Village Development Committees.

As of now, Pokhara sub-metropolis and Lekhnath municipality have 29 and 18 wards, respectively.

The municipalities will have 31 and 23 wards respectively if the merger plan is accepted.