KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a meeting with mayors from across the Kathmandu Valley at Baluwatar on Monday evening.
During the meeting with the delegation from the Valley Mayors’ Forum, the local government chiefs expressed confidence that the upcoming election would be successfully conducted under the Prime Minister’s leadership. They also assured their full cooperation in the process.
The mayors briefed the Prime Minister on various challenges they are facing at the local level. Several representatives said the government should not hesitate to take bold decisions when required.
They requested the federal government’s support to resolve waste-management issues and settle long-pending disputes related to streetlight payments.
Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan said some dues date back to before his tenure and asked the government to clear them. He also proposed that 60% of streetlight fees be borne by local governments and the remaining 40% by the federal government.
The mayors further raised concerns about security issues that emerged after the Gen-Z movement and asked for support in ensuring smooth operation of local offices.
The mayor of Gokarneshwar asked for approval to expand roads on Nepal Trust land. The mayor of Tokha requested that the government decide on compensation for land acquisition to widen the Tokha–Chhahare road, arguing that a non-party government should make this decision as previous governments could not.
Budhanilkantha Municipality Mayor Mitharam Adhikari said people not linked to the Gen-Z movement had carried out looting in homes on September 9, and demanded strict legal action.
Comment