Butwal, Apr. 19: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Poudel has said that the rights to resources as provided by the Local Self-Governance Act to develop the municipalities as an autonomous body should not be made an issue of victory or defeat and implemented in courageous manner.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel was inaugurating the fourth general meeting of the Nepal Municipalities Association at Siddharthanagar today.

Local Self-Governance Act has been introduced to develop the local bodies as an autonomous body keeping in mind that real meaning of democracy is good governance, he said, adding that effort on the part of all concerned is necessary to further empower the local bodies and make them effective by correcting mistakes, if any, in the Local Self-Governance Act.

Mr Poudel noted that the people’s representatives should provide maximum services to the people and handle the budget transparently in order to empower the municipalities.

As the management aspect of the local bodies were not efficient, some of the powers had to be reserved at the centre, he added.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the attempts being made few elements to subvert democracy under the pretext of revolution should be foiled unitedly.

Cpn-uml central member and mp Rajendra Pandey said that there was inconsistencies within the Local Self-Governance Act. It had reduced the resources of the municipalities, he added.

Cpn-uml central member Tanka Karki said that Local Self-Governance Act was not in consonance with the democratic culture.

Various speakers including vice-chairman of Rupandehi district development committee Ram Chandra Dhakal and Sidharthanagar Municipality mayor Sagar Pratap Rana expressed their views at the function chaired by president of Nepal Municipalities Association Dormani Poudel.

Altogether 254 representatives from 58 municipalities are attending the two-day meeting.