Himal Press 
ITAHARI: Koshi Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki has said that the three tiers of government have not been able to work on the basis of coordination, cooperation, and coexistence envisioned by the constitution.
Addressing a meeting of the Provincial Development Problem Resolution Committee in Biratnagar on Sunday, Chief Minister Karki said that even after completing 99% of the work at the local and provincial levels, problems remain unresolved when certain issues are forwarded to the federal government. “Although the constitution states that the three tiers of government should function based on coordination, cooperation, and coexistence, the provincial government has not been able to work effectively,” he added.
Responding to issues raised in the Provincial Development Problem Resolution Committee, Karki said problems seen within the province should be resolved at the provincial level, while tasks requiring federal involvement should be carried out in coordination with the federal government. “Some problems can be resolved at the provincial level itself through cooperation and coordination,” he added.
People’s representatives and government officials participating in the meeting said that Provincial Public Expenditure Standards and Frugality Guidelines have made it difficult to carry out work.
Issues related to increasing revenue collection and expanding the revenue base, formulating legal procedures, systematic implementation of projects funded through the complementary budget, and reducing unaccounted expenditures were also discussed at the meeting.
Likewise, liabilities arising from multi-year projects and their future impact, as well as difficulties encountered in implementing small-scale projects, were also discussed in the meeting.
Vice-Chairperson of the Koshi Provincial Planning Commission, Taranath Niraula, said the meeting held serious discussions on the curtailment of transport-related authority by the federal government. It also criticized the federal government’s lack of attention to provincial jurisdictions, including agricultural income tax, he added.
Provincial ministers and secretaries also shared their views on problems faced by their respective ministries.
Koshi Principal Secretary Rajendra Poudel said that the issues raised in the meeting will be resolved in coordination with the federal government, while tasks to be carried out by the province will be implemented immediately.
