The Fifth Meeting of the Bagmati Province Coordination Council, held in Hetauda on Thursday, concluded with the approval of 23 decisions, including several crucial recommendations to be forwarded to the National Coordination Council. The meeting, which began on Thursday, made decisions regarding both provincial and national matters.
The council recommended to the National Coordination Council that the province should take responsibility for tree-cutting management post-Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and that the ownership of the ropeway (Ranjumarg) should be transferred to the province. Other important resolutions included the quick passage of the Electricity Bill and the allocation of budget for the reconstruction of disaster-affected areas.
In addition, the meeting proposed an amendment to the Public Procurement Act, advocating for the creation of a special legal framework for the reconstruction of archaeological heritage sites. The council also recommended that the authority for issuing permits and collecting royalties for mountain expeditions in the range of 6,000 to 7,000 meters should be handed over to the province.
The meeting also decided to establish a personal information system for employees working in Bagmati Province and local bodies, in coordination with the National Library, to facilitate registration and management of their data.
The meeting was organized in accordance with Section 24(1) of the Intergovernmental Relations Act, 2077. Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama chaired the session, which saw the participation of provincial ministers, local representatives, and the chief of the District Coordination Committee, Lalit Ghalan.
Presentations were made on various topics by government officials, including Ved Prasad Bhandari, Secretary of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers Office, who discussed employee management at provincial and local levels; Purna Bahadur Darji, Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, who highlighted the challenges of disaster management; and Krishna Mainali, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, who focused on intergovernmental financial transfers and revenue distribution.
Discussions also included input from various leaders. Karn Bahadur Magar, President of the Village Municipalities Federation of Bagmati Province, urged the government to activate the Provincial Public Service Commission and the Good Governance Center. Chameli Gurung, Vice Chairperson of the North Gaya Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, emphasized the need for capacity-building training for elected representatives.
Additionally, Deepak Prasad Gautam, Chief of the District Coordination Committee in Kavre, expressed concerns about discouraging destructive development practices that exploit natural resources. Lobheshri Neupane, Mayor of Ramechhap Municipality, called for solutions to long-term issues in physical infrastructure development.
This meeting marked a significant step in fostering coordination and collaboration among the three levels of government federal, provincial, and local to address challenges in governance, development, and lawmaking. Previous meetings of the Bagmati Province Coordination Council were held on Jestha 7 and 8, 2075, Jestha 29 and 30, 2076, Chaitra 12, 2077, and Jestha 10, 2081.
The ongoing dialogue aims to resolve disputes and enhance cooperation between the governments for the greater development and prosperity of the province.
