The chief ministers of seven provinces jointly called on the federal government to implement the 17-point charter of demands they presented last year.
Expressing their concerns at the meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today, they asked to fulfill the demands which are a must for the provinces’ effective functioning.
Last July, a delegation of seven chief ministers had presented their 17-point demands including deployment of civil servants, promulgation of laws, and revenue sharing.
“We jointly called for implementing the 17-point demand, most of which remain unimplemented,” Madhesh Province chief minister Satish Kumar Singh said, adding that their key and longstanding demands include adjustment of Nepal Police in provincial police force and promulgation of the Federal Civil Service Act as in the absence of the necessary law the smooth functioning of the provinces have been regularly under question. "Although maintaining law and order falls under the exclusive authority of the provinces, successive federal governments have delayed the adjustment of the police, and promulgation of subsequent laws.
The provinces also demanded transferring ownership of land and buildings being used by provincial entities to the respective provinces, and deployment and transfer of the officials in coordination with the provinces. Provinces have been complaining that frequent unconsented transfers of principal secretaries, secretaries and other staff adversely affect their performance.
The chief ministers have been demanding an arrangement to send secretaries by the federal government to the provincial ministries and by chief administrative officers to the local units, with the provinces retaining the ultimate authority to assign them duties.
Currently, the federal government deploys them directly, which has created problems in the he provincial level.
Since the provinces have been facing unprecedented burdens from natural disasters, the chief ministers demanded urgent support and response from the federal government.
Likewise, delay in promulgation of the remaining federal laws to delegate the exclusive and concurrent authorities to the provinces, as well as amendments to existing laws to ease land acquisition for development projects and establish industrial areas have also hindered the progress of provincial governments.
The chief ministers also asked to amend the Local Government Operations Act to ease revenue sharing from river-based resources between local and provincial governments, and revise the Forest Act to allow them to use national forests.
The Madhesh government has even filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court demanding authority over forest management, but the case has been pending since long.
The chief ministers have also demanded to repeal of the Urban Area Public Transport (Management) Authority Act-2022 to enable provinces to collect revenues from traffic rules violation.
The chief ministers, during today's meeting, also expressed frustration over delays in obtaining clearance from the forest ministry, which according to them is hindering development efforts of the provincial governments. In response, PM Oli said he too was concerned about the delays in development works due to lack of permit in the use of forest covered areas.
Oli was of the view that concerned agencies with forest should facilitate development efforts while also working to protect forests and environment. Instead they are creating barriers in development efforts, he added.
Oli, on the occasion, also called for running an effective, competent and transparent administration, which can priorities addressing the public grievances.
No comments:
Post a Comment