GANDAKI, April 20: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokhrel has said restrictions imposed by the federal government on exercise of rights guaranteed by constitution resulted in the province's failure to deliver as per expectation of people.
CM Pokhrel made the remarks during a meeting organized by Gandaki Province Coordination Council here Monday. He wondered how provinces could work while most of the resources are concentrated to center and only a few coughed up to province and local levels.
Huge chunk of the budget is allocated for the central government while only 15 percent of it is allocated to province and local levels each, he argued, adding that it directly impacted on the province government's performance to deliver as per people's aspiration and development needs.
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Chief Minister Pokharel reminded that it is a huge challenge for the sub-national governments as the Civil Service Act is not enacted by the federal government. "We now have a provincial public service commission. Employees are being recommended after fulfilling the approved quotas. But, the career development of these employees is still uncertain," he shared.
Although police administration and peace and security are the sole rights of the provincial government, police are yet to be brought under provincial government. It has questioned the effectiveness and sustainability of peace and security, according to him.
The province has sole rights on national forest lying in the province, but the Forest Act has become a big obstruction at present, CM Pokhrel reminded. He also blamed that local levels too had not given the province its rights. He urged the local levels to build positive thoughts.
On the occasion, Minister for Internal Affairs at Gandaki Province Dobate Bishwokarma said that only smooth coordination among province and local level could help ensure effective implementation of federalism.
