Local level people's representatives have drawn the government's attention to not redistributing budget in the name of social upliftment programs and have demanded a detailed investigation, transparent process, and mandatory involvement of the local government before implementing the program.
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Local people's representatives have demanded that the program's authority be transferred to the local level after allegations of widespread irregularities and lack of transparency were made in the social upliftment program being run under the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee.
Helambu Rural Municipality Chairperson Nima Gyaljen Sherpa recalled that the program was previously stopped due to irregularities and alleged that although around Rs 1.5 billion was spent, clear details of it were not made public. 'It is said that so much money was spent, but there is no transparent information about where and how much work was done.' That is why we have demanded that the program be handed over to the local level, but there has been no hearing,' he said.
Local people's representatives have drawn the government's attention to not redistributing budget in the name of social upliftment programs and have demanded that a detailed investigation, transparent process, and mandatory involvement of the local government be ensured before the program is launched. Melamchi Municipality, Helambu Rural Municipality, Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality and Mandandeupur Municipality held a joint meeting a month ago and sent a decision with the same demand to the concerned body, said Aitaman Tamang, the mayor of Melamchi Municipality. ‘The social upliftment program has not yet made its accounts public after holding a public hearing. Even though a large amount of money has been spent, there is no transparency, which has raised serious questions about the project and the committee,’ he said.
According to the people’s representatives, the development committee has been directly controlling the financial transactions of the social upliftment program. They allege that the possibility of irregularities has increased since the bank checks used for expenses are prepared by the committee. Locals are dissatisfied, saying that even after the term of the social upliftment program has ended, the concerned officials are still using vehicles and engaging in economic activities.
‘The social upliftment program has become a means of getting services and facilities from some people,’ said Subin Shrestha, a local of Melamchi Municipality. Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality Chairman Tasi Lama Hyolmo said that a decision was sent a month ago demanding that the authority and program of the social upliftment program be transferred to the local level.
Although the local level has been given the authority to formulate, implement, and monitor plans with the implementation of federalism, the people's representatives have objected to the program being run through a non-governmental organization. They have argued that such a practice is against the spirit of federalism. It is reported that the local levels concerned have jointly drawn attention to this issue in writing.
Meanwhile, Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee Executive Director Balmukunda Shrestha confirmed that he resigned from his post on Tuesday and informed that discussions on this issue have already been underway. 'I have resigned, a new chief has not been appointed.' He said that this issue was already being discussed.
