The federal government, often criticized for its reluctance to delegate constitutional powers to the provincial government, constructed seven attractive 14-block buildings for ministers and provincial leaders at Bhainsepati in Lalitpur.The apartment buildings were built according to the federal government’s plan to create both liaison offices and housing for all ministers and provincial heads. According to the government, this decision will improve coordination between the province and Kathmandu.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the buildings on Sunday and the keys to them have been handed over to the relevant authorities. Construction on this housing project started five years ago when KP Sharma Oli was Prime Minister. The project covers an area of 1.41 hectares and was implemented at a cost of Rs 850 million. Each building includes a fountain, a garden and an underground water drilling station.Though some observers say it is good to have residencies for top provincial officials in Kathmandu, many leaders and politicians see it as a “reverse path” for federalism as it could further shift the loyalty of the provinces to the federal government.
Provincial governments are struggling to find places to build residential quarters for their chief ministers, ministers, speakers, deputy speakers and provincial chiefs.“I had asked for land to build quarters for chief ministers and ministers when I was chief minister, but to no avail,” said Prithvi Subba Gurung, former chief minister of Gandaki Province. “The problem is with the intent of the federal government, one that is not helping the provinces construct such buildings in the respective provinces.”Gurung, however, said it was good for the government to provide residences for the chief ministers and provincial chiefs as they need to visit the federal capital often and it is not always easy to stay at hotels or rented apartments.
However, experts on federalism say providing ‘lavish’ residences to provincial officials at a time when people of the provinces are struggling with rising cost of living reflects poorly on the federal government.“Permanent residences for the officials should be constructed in their respective provinces, not in the federal capital where these officials visit only occasionally,” said Rudra Sharma, a federalism expert. “The housing project goes against the spirit of federalism. Instead of working to strengthen federalism, both the provincial and federal governments appear to be taking a reverse path.”
So far, the federal government has been renting apartments for the provincial chiefs and chief ministers at Dhapakhel paying Rs55,000 a month per apartment.Senior Advocate Chandra Kanta Gyawali, an expert on federalism, said the federal government should have built such houses in the respective provinces, although some kind of residential arrangement for the officials was needed in the federal capital as well.“This shows the centralised mentality of the leaders in the federal government,” Gyawali told the Post. “Actually, the federal government seems intent on rolling back federalism as nothing is being done for the development of the provinces.”
Gyawali said for the leaders in the federal parliament, both in the government and opposition, federalism is nothing but a hollow rhetoric they keep repeating without any commitment to its ethos.Having such buildings in the federal capital, according to Gyawali, is akin to asking them to continue living in the Capital.But in the words of former chief minister Gurung, it doesn’t mean that the construction of such buildings is not worth it just because no such buildings were constructed in the provinces where they were needed the most.
Source: Here
Image source: Here
