POKHARA, Jan 23: The ruling parties of Gandaki Province have agreed to downsize the number of provincial ministries to seven from the existing 12 ministries.

Spokesperson for the Gandaki Province Government Sita Kumari Sundas, who is a minister without portfolio, informed Republica that the ruling parties have agreed to reduce five ministries in Gandaki Province. The provincial government will have seven ministries instead of 12.

Minister Sundas said that the provincial government will have only seven ministers including the chief minister who will lead the Council of Ministers while the other ministries will take charge of the Ministry of Economic Affairs; Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development; Ministry of Social Development and Health; Ministry of  Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment; and Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources in Gandaki Province.

According to Sundas, the chief minister and the Council of Ministers will be responsible for the overall administration of the province in addition to administrative reforms while the responsibility of maintaining peace and security, disaster management, information, communication, and provincial assembly affairs fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Likewise, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure will look after urban development and planning.

Similarly, issues related to education, culture, science, technology, women, children and senior citizens, youth and sports fall under the Ministry of Social Development and Health while the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment will look after issues related to industry, commerce and supply, tourism, forest, environment, etc. According to Minister Sundas, matters related to agriculture and livestock, energy, water resources etc. fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.

All seven provinces initially had seven ministries after the country adopted a federal system of governance.

But after the breakup of the then Communist Party of Nepal, the number of ministries was increased in all seven provinces so that the parties could maintain their grip in the provincial government. The then Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung had formed 11 ministries to keep his government intact in Gandaki Province.

Despite the increase in the number of ministries, the left-democratic government formed after the fall of Gurung’s government added one more ministry to bring the number of ministries to 12 in Gandaki Province. 

The political parties had drawn widespread criticism for increasing the number of ministries just to waste the hard-earned money collected from the taxpayers. The move had put into question the system of federal governance and prompted calls for abolishing federalism. 

Along with a new mandate, the Gandaki Province government led by Khagraj Adhikari is ready to reduce the number of ministries. Adhikari had been insisting from the beginning that he would reduce the number of ministries in order to avoid criticism and not to have a negative view of his government. 

According to the agreement between the coalition partners, CPN-UML will get four ministries, CPN-Maoist Center will get two and RPP will get one ministry. However, the Maoist Center is not happy with this arrangement, sources said. 

The Maoists have been demanding  three ministries arguing that Phanindra Devkota of CPN Samajwadi led by Baburam Bhattarai, who won the election from Gorkha, should also be made a minister.

Due to the delay in reducing the number of ministries, the government has not been able to get a full shape. Not only that, even those who have been appointed as ministers are yet to get their responsibilities. They are currently in the government as ministers without portfolio. But now  that the number of ministries has been finalized, sources said that the chief minister is preparing to finalize the Council of Ministers. Minister Sundas said that the parties are busy choosing the ministries. 

 
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