Lumbini Province Government Fails to Reduce Ministries Despite Decision

Butwal. The Lumbini Province government's decision to reduce the number of ministries from 12 to 8, effective from today, has not yet been implemented. The Provincial Council of Ministers had decided to reduce the number of ministries in the month of Jestha. The policy and program for the fiscal year 2083/84 also include provisions for reducing the number of ministries. However, the budget for the current fiscal year 2083/84 has been allocated in the name of all 12 ministries.

According to Krishnadev Aryal, Information Officer and Deputy Secretary at the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers' Office, the task force formed under the leadership of the Chief Secretary for ministry restructuring has recently submitted its report. He informed that the implementation process will move forward once the Council of Ministers decides which ministries will be merged.

A committee was formed under the convenership of Chief Secretary Krishnaprasad Kapri for the implementation of the decision. The committee was given the responsibility to prepare a draft including necessary amendments to the Provincial Government (Work Division) Regulations, 2079. Based on that report, the target was to implement the new structure from Shrawan 1 by restructuring the ministries.

Chief Minister Chetanarayan Acharya stated that political consensus is also necessary along with technical preparation for ministry restructuring. He mentioned that discussions are ongoing at both formal and informal levels and informed that preparations are underway to implement the new structure within the month of Shrawan, even if it could not be implemented from Shrawan 1.

The provincial government has stated that its goal is to control administrative expenses by reducing the number of ministries, make the government structure efficient, and further enhance work performance.