Bagmati province govt asked to make public 100 days progress

By Rammani Dahal

Hetauda, Nov. 11: The coalition government of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML in Bagmati Province has completed its first 100 days in office.

It is a common practice for governments to make public their work and achievements after completing 100 days. 

However, despite the NC-led government in Bagmati Province completing its 100 days on October 31, the provincial government has not yet released any information on its activities or major achievements.

The delay is attributed to the provincial government and ministers not making significant long-term decisions that directly impact citizens. 

The 100-day period was largely marked by formal programmes and some appointments rather than tangible outcomes. Even nine days after completing 100 days in office, the provincial government's actions have not been made public.

The joint government, formed on July 24 under the leadership of Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Bahadur Singh Lama Tamang has not released a report on its 100-day achievements.

Staff at the office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, responsible for documenting the achievements, stated that the report was ready by November 5 but was delayed due to the Chief Minister's absence. The Chief Minister had asked for a final review before it could be released.

Most ministers, including the Chief Minister, were away from the provincial capital, Hetauda, for Tihar and had not returned even after the holiday ended, further delaying the report's release.

Personal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sanyog Basnet, explained that the delay was due to the Chief Minister’s absence, but once he returns, the work completed during the 100 days will be made public after discussing in the Council of Ministers.

Meanwhile, the recently formed provincial-level joint mechanism of the ruling parties NC and CPN-UML has shown interest in the 100-day achievements of the provincial government. 

The mechanism has recommended that the provincial government publish the 100-day achievements as soon as possible.

Ramkrishna Chitrakar, the Deputy leader of the NC Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party, stated that the joint mechanism meeting decided to urge the government to quickly release the report on the 100-day accomplishments. 

He emphasised that the government must be transparent and inform citizens about every decision and action taken, as it is the government’s responsibility to keep the public informed.

The meeting also decided to prepare a code of conduct for the ministers and draft necessary amendments to provincial laws, which will be presented in the upcoming winter session of the provincial assembly.

Additionally, the mechanism has drawn attention to the need for immediate reconstruction in flood-affected areas. The mechanism has recommended mobilising the Prime Minister's Disaster Management Fund under the federal government and coordinating with the federal government to speed up the reconstruction process with an action plan.

Regarding the delay in post-disaster reconstruction, the joint mechanism has also decided to recommend legal arrangements to amend budget programmes for the disaster-affected municipalities following the floods of September 27 and 28.

The meeting was attended by Chitrakar, NC Chief Whip Govinda Lamsal, UML Chief Whip Madhusudan Paudel, UML MP Keshab Pokharel and NC MP Ramkumar Pahadi.