KATHMANDU, March 15: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday formally announced that the newly-delineated 744 local units have become functional across the country from this day.

Although the announcement was made Tuesday, some of the local units have started working from Monday itself as the government has already published all the details of the local units in the Nepal Gazette. 

"This has opened a new chapter in the Nepali history," said Prime Minister Dahal at the inauguration function of the newly-restructured office of the Lalitpur Metropolitan on Tuesday. "It is not just an ordinary improvement, but symbolizes revolutionary change."

Prime Minister Dahal said that all the necessary powers and resources, which were centralized, have now reached the villages. "For the first time, we made our local bodies powerful than in the past," said Dahal.

The services that were being provided by the district administration, zonal offices, regional headquarters and the capital will now be provided through the village councils and municipal councils as per the new setup. 

He argued that the current changes are important for the implementation of the constitution.

Dahal also informed that the government has been focusing on the local polls scheduled for May 14. "Once, the polls become a success, the country and the people will win. So, I invite one and all to participate in the elections without any hesitation, doubt and fear," he added.

The government had endorsed 744 local units on March 5. The new local units replace the existing 217 municipalities and 3,117 village development committees.

 
• pushpa kamal dahal
 
• local units
 
• operational