April 18, Kathmandu – The government has prepared new standards to regulate the process of altering the number and boundaries of rural municipalities, municipalities, and wards. The Federal Affairs and General Administration Ministry has developed a preliminary draft titled ‘Standards for Revising the Number and Boundaries of Rural Municipalities, Municipalities, and Wards, Merging Them, and Reviewing Municipal Classifications, 2083’ which clearly outlines the procedures.
The draft proposes a four-step process for any change in the boundaries or numbers of local units or wards, or for merging two municipalities: 1. Formation of a district-level study committee and report preparation – Initially, a committee will be established at the district level to assess the necessity of boundary or number changes. Chaired by the head of the District Coordination Committee, this group will include deputy chiefs of the concerned municipalities, heads of the Survey and Land Revenue Offices, the assistant chief district officer from the District Administration Office, and administrative officers of the local units. The committee must complete its study based on population, geography, and available facilities and submit a report to the concerned local unit within three months.
2. Approval by two-thirds majority in the municipal assembly – After the committee submits its report, the proposal to modify boundaries or numbers will be presented to the respective rural or municipal assembly. Approval requires the support of two-thirds of the total current members in the assembly. Only after securing this two-thirds majority will the proposal be forwarded to the provincial government.
3. Recommendation by the provincial government – The provincial government will review the proposal that has passed the two-thirds threshold at the local level. If it meets the prescribed criteria and standards, the provincial government will recommend the decision to the Federal Affairs Ministry for onward transmission to the central government (Government of Nepal).
4. Final approval by the Cabinet – Upon receiving the provincial recommendation, the Federal Affairs Ministry will conduct a further review. Ultimately, the ministry will present the proposal to the Cabinet meeting of the Government of Nepal for final approval. The boundary or number changes will only be enacted once Cabinet approval is secured.
This multi-tiered process thus ensures that boundary and number revisions of local units are preceded by thorough expert studies, followed by a two-thirds majority approval at the local assembly, provincial government recommendation, and finally the federal government’s consent. The ministry has issued a circular on April 16, giving the chief ministers and cabinet offices of all seven provinces three days to provide feedback on the draft. The ministry plans to revise the draft based on suggestions received from provincial authorities.
