Empower local levels to make federalism successful: Serchan

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT,Butwal, Feb. 6:  Lumbini Province Chief Amik Sherchan has said that the local governments should be reinforced to strengthen federalism. 

Inaugurating the first national conference of the sub metropolitans organised by Butwal Sub Metropolitan City in Butwal on Sunday, Sherchan said that since the conditions and problems of metropolis, sub-metropolis and rural municipalities vary, it is necessary to discuss distributions of resources from an economic and social point of view. 

He said that the local government could play an important role to implement federalism.

He said that for the implementation of federalism, coordination and cooperation among the central, provincial and local governments were necessary, and they should pay attention to formulate necessary laws.

Sherchan expressed his happiness that Butwal has started the practice of finding solutions to the common problems of sub-metropolitan cities across the country and expressed his belief that the move would help strengthen federalism. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dhanraj Acharya, coordinator of the Metropolitan Forum and Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, said that the local governments should be reinforced to strengthen federalism.

 He said that the federal government should show interest in solving the complexities which surface while formulating and implementing laws required to exercise the rights guaranteed by the constitution. 

He said that geography, economic and social conditions of the metropolis, sub-metropolis, municipalities and rural municipalities are different, so financial resources should also be distributed accordingly.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of District Coordination Committee Rupandehi Uma Kant Chapai said that the federal government should show special interest in making laws necessary for the implementation of rights provisioned by the constitution. He said that coordination and cooperation among the central, provincial and local governments should be made more effective.

Narulal Chaudhary, general secretary of Nepal Municipality Association and Mayor of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan city, said that plans of the central, provincial and local governments were getting duplicated and complexity in the implementation of the plans, so coordination and cooperation among them should be emphasised.

Co-treasurer of Nepal Municipality Association and Mayor of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City Mina Kumari Lama said that the local governments should be made more effective for the success of federalism.

Speaking at the event, Khel Raj Pandey, Mayor of Butwal Sub Metropolitan City, said that the federal government should facilitate the provincial and local governments to make the needed laws.

Lumbini Province Chief Amik Sherchan inaugurating the first national conference of the sub metropolitans organised by Butwal Sub Metropolitan City in Butwal, Sunday.