KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urged the people's representatives to dispel the illusion among the public surrounding the new taxation in the local units.
Addressing the sixth national convention of Municipal Association of Nepal here today, PM Oli said," We have established the federal republic system in the country after a huge sacrifice. There may be shortcomings in implementation of a new practice. We should move ahead correcting the shortcomings."
Appealing one and all not to go by the false rumors on taxation, Oli urged the people's representatives to render services to the public whilst tearing apart the misconception surrounding the new taxation system.
Stating that some forces were trying to create a misconception about the latest taxation of the government for local units, he stressed on enabling an environment where the public should have a fair understanding of the taxation system.
The PM argued that since some local units brought into effect the new taxation system without fairly understanding about it, even the federal government and provincial governments were blamed for it. He stressed for the need to correct it.
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Reaffirming that the central government was committed to make the local units resourceful, further able and effective, PM Oli pressed for unison among the people's representatives for the greater good of the country.
He assured that the dispute regarding the ranking of the people's representatives of the local units would be resolved in few days.
On a different note, PM Oli shared that the agreements on expansion of connectivity made with our neighboring countries –India and China-were inching towards implementation.
He added," A huge stride has been made for the expansion of railway network from China and India to Nepal. Preparations are afoot to launch a sea route to expand Nepal's access to sea."
"Gone are the days when Nepal would remain a landlocked country as we are going to connect to the sea from rivers. India is to allow its any ports to Nepal to use," the PM reiterated.
On the upcoming the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit to be held from August 30-31 in Kathmandu, PM Oli said that 16 areas of cooperation would be tabled in the two-day summit.
Prime Minister Oli said that the government has forwarded a campaign 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' to expand connectivity, develop people's level relation, road transport, energy and sustainable development goals.
He further said that neighboring countries, people and those having harmony towards Nepal have liked the goal of prosperity forwarded by the government and have expressed commitment of their cooperation in this regard.
Similarly, Chief Minister of Province no 3, Dormani Poudel, urged the federal government to formulate laws of local and provincial government soon as the people could not feel real sense of development until the local level are empowered.
He said, "We have been facing lots of problems in lack of laws. Role of local level is crucial to institutionalize federal democratic republic."
Likewise, Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructure of Province no 2, Jitendra Sonal, said that practice of federal system would be meaningless until local governments are empowered, saying local level should be made empower by handing over the laws to local and provincial governments.
Nepali Congress Vice-President Bimalendra Nidhi, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Bidya Sundar Shakya, Coordinator of District Coordination Committee Federation, Shanti Sundas, among others also expressed their views.
The two-day conference would elect a new leadership of Association. On the occasion, Chief Minister of Province no 3, Poudel, and Deputy-Mayor of Birgunj Metropolitan City, Shanti Karki, were honored. RSS
