KATHMANDU: The Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra (Balen) Shah, has emphasized the need for a provincial government that is both empowered to assume authority from the federal level and capable of delegating powers to strengthen local governance. This remark came during a discussion with Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, Chief Secretary to the Bagmati Province Chief Minister and Office of the Council of Ministers, who visited the Mayor on Sunday.
Mayor Shah voiced concerns about the incapacity of the existing provincial government to handle the authority transfer in an efficient manner. In order to improve governance and development, he maintained that the provincial government should transfer duties to local levels in addition to assuming authorities from the federal government.
He raised concerns about the function of the province government, pointing out that there doesn't seem to be much need for a provincial authority if local government concerns are simply sent to the federal government. Shah claims that this circumstance calls into question the province's ability to effectively address local issues.
Shah went on to critique the existing status of provincial governance, pointing out that the federal government is already working on local problems like squatters and the rehabilitation and reform of the river system. If the provincial government does not actively participate in such important issues, he questions why it exists.
The mayor emphasized that local administrations should get guidance and help from the province, which should serve as a "parental" and assist the body. Shah regrets that this objective hasn't yet been accomplished in practice.
In order to create a more decentralized and functional governance structure, Mayor Shah argued for a more capable and empowered provincial administration that could meet the demands of both local communities and the federal government.
