Kathmandu, April 16

Amid dispute among federal, provincial and local governments related to power sharing, taxation, infrastructure building, drafting laws and other administrative works, the federal government has come up with a new bill to address such problems.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, which is likely to register the Centre, Province and Local Level Coordination Bill at the Parliamentary Secretariat in a few days. The bill provisions a prime minister-led Coordination Council to resolve problems.

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal today said the bill was proposed by the government on the basis of Article 235 of the constitution.

The Article states that the federal Parliament shall make necessary laws to maintain coordination between the federation, province and local levels. It explains that the Provincial Assembly may maintain coordination between the province and village bodies or municipalities and settle political disputes that arise in coordination with the concerned village body; municipality and district coordination committee.

Minister Dhakal said the PM-led CC would resolve problem between government tiers. The CC will comprise representation of home, finance and law ministers from the central government, the seven chief ministers of provinces and representatives of three local bodies associations, namely, the National Association of Rural Municipalities, Municipal Association of Nepal and Association of Metropolitan Municipalities.

The bill provisions that the CC meeting will be held at least once a year, said Minister Dhakal. “If the three tiers of government meet regularly, they can share their problems and share thoughts,” he said, adding that this would reduce tension between the three tiers.

The members of the committee can be expanded as required, said Dhakal. He also explained that the central government would hold meetings with provinces on April 25 and 26 to discuss issues related to coordination with the central government as well as the other inputs for the budget.

Last year, the provinces had criticised the central government  for not holding discussion with them before presenting the budget.

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