Butwal, Apr. 22: The 18th general meeting of the Nepal Municipalities Association has concluded here after releasing an 18-point Siddharthanagar declaration.

The meeting has proposed to issue directives for exercising the rights and duties at Municipality ward level in a bid to translate decentralisation into practice in keeping with the spirit of the Local Autonomy Act 2055.

The meeting asked the government to activate the judicial powers of the municipality inherent in the Local Autonomy Act, immediately amend the provision on right to take cases to district court in contravention of the powers delegated to the Municipality as a quasi-judiciary body, and reduce the existing interest rate on loans issued by the town development committee as this hampers the development work of the municipalities.

It also took a decision to set up a town development unit in place of the town development committee, delegate powers for the selection of school management committees to the local bodies and continue the allowances being received by ward chairmen.

The meeting came to the conclusion that since the municipalities are facing financial difficulties in distributing salaries to employees following the termination of octroi and vehicle taxes, the centre should provide a budget of Rs. 300,000 to each ward under the Municipalities, a separate budget of Rs. 1,000,000 to each Municipality and also funds for administrative expenses.

It also called for the development of Lekhanath Municipality as a garden of seven lakes since it covers the seven lakes lying in Kaski district.

It drew the attention of the government to the inclusion of the Bhadrapur-Rangeli Road in the ninth plan and the construction of a bridge over the Mechi river.

The government should construct an international airport at Lumbini, the meeting concluded and emphasised that the government must come up with policy and programme in order to conserve the “Krishnasar” in Khairapur Panditpur of Gulriya Municipality, Ward No. 2.