NC leaders for continuation of existing services from local bodies

Kathmandu, Aug 21: Nepali Congress leaders have stressed that the services and amenities given from existing VDCs and Municipalities should not be reduced while restructuring the local bodies.

In an interaction organized by the working committee of the party here today to solicit suggestion for the fixation of the number and borders of the Municipalities and village municipalities, special preserved zones and autonomous zones, the Central leaders reiterated for not reducing the existing facilities and services while restructuring the local tier of governance.

Speaking at the programme, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba urged to concentrate on the practical difficulties while restructuring the local bodies to make it less in numbers. He stressed on the practicality of merging the VDCs in village Municipality adding that it might not be practical in hilly and mountainous belts while developing a village municipality comprising VDCs.

Similarly, senior leader Ramchandra Poudel opined for holding consultations with other parties in this regard and that the issues should be resolved within a week. He said that the national treasury might be misused while restructuring the local bodies if the service centres were developed haphazardly.

Likewise, party leader Prakash Man Singh stressed on not reducing the services and facilities adding the local bodies’ restructuring process might be changed if the borders of federal units were changed while addressing the Tarai issues through political ways.

On the occasion, leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula opined for holding local bodies’ election on the basis of existing local bodies. Similarly, party Treasurer Sitadevi Yadav, leader Gopal Man Shrestha, Kathmandu party President Sabuj Baniya stressed on holding local bodies election by Mid-April after fixing the demarcation work of local bodies.

Party officials, central members, district presidents are attending the interaction. Expert Dr Shyam Bhurtel-led team has presented a working paper. After the presentation, party leaders will give their suggestion in the issues, shared chief secretary of the party office, Krishna Prasad Poudel. RSS