KATHMANDU, Sept 29: The government has set criteria to merge local units, redraw their boundaries and review the classification of municipalities, paving the way for a possible reduction in the number of local governments after the upcoming local-level elections.
The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Federal Affairs and General Administration has made provisions for revising the number and boundaries of rural municipalities, municipalities and wards, merging local units and reclassifying municipalities. The provisions have been sent to all 77 district coordination committees, provincial governments and local governments, according to Joint Secretary Prakash Dahal of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.
“We are waiting for reports. As soon as they arrive, we will begin the process. The number of local units will be revised after the upcoming local-level elections,” Dahal said.
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Under the law, the number of local units cannot be changed within one year of a local-level election. With around six months remaining until the election, the government plans to take up the issue immediately afterward, Dahal said.
The number of local units can be reduced through mergers but cannot exceed the existing 753, he said. The number and classification of local units have not been reviewed for a decade.
The Constitution and the Local Government Operation Act do not prescribe a fixed number of metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities or rural municipalities. However, the law sets minimum requirements for each category.
A local unit can be merged or its ward boundaries altered if the concerned rural or municipal assembly approves the proposal. The proposal must then be submitted to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, which has the authority to approve or reject it.
The criteria also allow rural municipalities, municipalities and sub-metropolitan cities to be upgraded if they meet prescribed requirements related to population, internal revenue, health facilities, roads, education, waste management, transport and other urban infrastructure.
Nepal currently has six metropolitan cities, 11 sub-metropolitan cities, 276 municipalities and 460 rural municipalities.
