KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Parliament's Development Committee Wednesday asked the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) to determine the number of local units and delineate their borders to be applicable  under the new federal set up as soon as possible on the basis of clear criteria developed using scientific data.

The parliamentary committee has asked the ministry to take initiatives to expedite the task as the commission formed to determine the number and borders of local units is under the same ministry.

The committee has also ordered the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) and Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to immediately draft the laws necessary for holding local elections and to table it in Parliament for endorsement. The government had earlier announced to hold local elections by mid-April 2017.

However, the Election Commission has complained that the government has been delaying in formulating election-related laws. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal when he visited the office of the Election Commission on August 22 assured the commission officials of formulating necessary laws in time. He instructed the officials to make all necessary preparations for holding the local elections by April. 

 
• house panel
 
• local units delineation