The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has deployed three coordination teams under the leadership of the Joint Secretary to facilitate 49 local levels, including two sub-metropolitan municipalities and 26 municipalities in 16 districts that could not come up with a budget and program for the financial year 2082/083. The team will go to the respective local level from Wednesday.

According to the ministry, there is a plan to go to other districts only after all the three teams start work in Madhesh province, which has the most problems.

In Section 71 of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074, it is mentioned that the budget approved by the executive should be submitted to the assembly before June 10 and passed by the end of the month. As the budget and policy program could not be brought within the specified time, it was decided to appoint a team for coordination at the local level, according to the ministry. 39 municipalities in Madhesh province, two in Bagmati, four in Koshi, one in Gandaki, three in Lumbini have not been able to bring the budget. Dharan and Itahari municipalities of Koshi have not been able to bring the budget.

According to Kali Prasad Parajuli, spokesperson and joint secretary of the ministry, three teams under the leadership of the joint secretary have been scheduled to go to the respective municipalities from Wednesday (tomorrow). Joint Secretary Parajuli, Rud Singh Tamang and Prakash Dahal are in the team. Each team will have a joint secretary, two deputy secretaries and one assistant secretary of the ministry. Spokesperson Parajuli informed that the National Federation of Rural Villages, Municipal Association and District Coordination Officer will be included in the team.

According to the Division of Work Regulations of the Government of Nepal, 2074, the Ministry of Federal Affairs is responsible for communication and coordination between the union and the local level and between the province and the local level. Parajuli informed that a team has been formed to coordinate the conditions for the local level to bring programs and budgets under the same responsibility.

In Section 27 of the Inter-Governmental Finance Management Act, 2074, it is stipulated that the local level can spend money other than the amount charged on the accumulated fund only after it has been approved by the assembly in its budget. But due to the conflict between the political parties represented at the local level, personal disagreements and the game of minority and majority, the budget could not be brought within the stipulated time. The team will facilitate the ministry to bring the program and budget as soon as possible through coordination. The Ministry has appointed a team to reach all local levels and coordinate.

Among the local levels that could not bring the budget, five local levels including Dharan and Itahari sub-metropolitan municipalities in Sunsari, Gramthang rural municipality in Morang, Myanglung municipality in Tehrathum, Dudhpokhri rural municipality in Lamjung, Galchi and Khaniabas rural municipalities in Dhading, Rajviraj and Dakneshwari municipalities in Saptari have not brought the budget.