Kathmandu, February 14

The taskforce formed by the government to study the report prepared by Local Bodies Restructuring Commission said that it would submit its report to the government on Thursday.

The government had formed a three-member taskforce to study the report prepared by the LBRC and recommend revisions in the report. The panel was also asked to take suggestions from all disgruntled parties, lawmakers and stakeholders of Province 2 and submit a report within 15 days.

“We will submit the report to the PM on Thursday,” said Minister for Industry, Nabindra Raj Joshi, who is also a member of the taskforce. He said that the task force consulted lawmakers from Province 2 today as well.

According to Joshi, lawmakers from all the parties and the districts were present in the consultation meeting. Those lawmakers, who were present have said that they would present their grievances and demands in written tomorrow. The taskforce said it will discuss with the United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of major Madhes-based parties tomorrow.

Several agitating forces, including the Madhesi parties have protested against the report prepared by the LBRC and demanded that the government revise it. They have also demanded that local bodies should be determined on the basis of population. The LBRC had submitted its report on January 6 suggesting creation of 719 local bodies across the country.

A source said that the taskforce would recommend that the government increase the number of local bodies in province 2 to appease the agitating parties.

“The taskforce has not found any mistake in the LBRC report. It is listening to the grievances of the agitating forces and will recommend increasing the number of local bodies to sort out the problems,” said Ashok Ghimire, press coordinator of Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Pandey.