The cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to establish eight ministries, including the Chief Minister's office, and to open transportation service offices in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Bardiya, East Rukum, Rolpa, and Pyuthan.
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The Lumbini provincial government has decided to reduce the number of ministries. The cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to reduce the number of ministries from the current 12 to only 8, effective from July 1, 2019, to reduce administrative expenses.
When the province was established in Lumbini, 6 ministries were initially working. Chief Minister Shankar Pokharel had increased the number of ministries to 11. After that, Kul Prasad KC of the Maoists, who became the Chief Minister, had increased the number of ministries to 17 to protect the government he led.
After the second term of the provincial assembly began, Lila Giri had reduced it to 10. However, after Chet Narayan Acharya became the Chief Minister, the number of ministries was increased to 12. Now, the same Chief Minister Acharya has decided to reduce the number of ministries to only 8, effective from July 1.
The cabinet meeting has formed an organization and management survey committee (task force) under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Kapri to merge the ministries. Social Development Minister Janmajya Timilsina said that the name and division of work of the ministry will be finalized after the report on which ministry will be merged with which will be prepared based on the suggestions of the same task force.
The cabinet meeting has also decided to open transport management service offices in Bardiya, East Rukum, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi and Gulmi. ‘With today’s decision, transport service offices will be opened in all districts of Lumbini Province,’ he said. ‘Vehicle billbook renewal and route permit work will be done through the cottage and small industry development committees in all districts.’ He said that the meeting has given the responsibility to the organization and management survey committee to review the organizational structure of the ministry as soon as possible and submit a report.
The meeting directed the Organization and Management Survey Committee, which was formed earlier under the coordination of Chief Secretary Kapri, to submit a report along with a draft of necessary amendments to the Provincial Government (Division of Work) Regulations, 2079 BS. The meeting approved the proposal of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport regarding vehicle renewal and operation of special services. Now, it has been decided to provide vehicle registration book (billbook) renewal and temporary road permit services in the districts without a transport management office from the coming fiscal year.
The meeting decided to assign responsibilities to the post of Provincial Secretary. Narayan Prasad Aryal has been assigned the responsibility of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers and Sushila Aryal has been assigned the responsibility of the Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law.
The meeting decided to send the Procedures for Pre-Approval of Study and Study Leave Approval, 2083 BS, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, the Regulations on Provincial Financial Procedures and Financial Responsibility to the Administration and Bills Committee. The Ministry of Forest and Environment has decided to recommend to the Government of Nepal for the transfer of religious forests and to send the Procedures for Cutting, Utilization, Transportation, Sale, Distribution and Monitoring of Trees in Private Forests, 2083 to the concerned committee.
Lumbini currently houses the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, Physical Infrastructure Development, Urban Development and Drinking Water, Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives, Economic Affairs and Planning, Industry, Tourism and Transport, Health, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Social Development, Forest and Environment, Internal Affairs and Law, and Youth and Sports. In a situation where ministries need to be reduced, preparations are being made to merge Urban Development and Drinking Water and Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Health and Youth and Sports with the Ministry of Social Development.
Minister for Urban Development and Drinking Water Saroj Thapa (Rose Rana) said that the government's decision to increase the number of ministries to 8 is positive. "It has long been said that good governance should be brought to the provinces as well," he said. "After the center reduced the budget, the provinces also had to reduce it. The decision has been made accordingly." He said that with fewer ministries, expenses for ministers, secretariats, vehicles, security, and employees will decrease.
