Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has issued a bold statement, calling out the federal government for its non-cooperation and lack of coordination in resolving various local issues. Despite repeated efforts over the course of nine months, the federal government has failed to take action, prompting the mayor to take drastic measures. Last Saturday, he instructed KMC officials not to collect garbage from the premises of Singha Durbar, the government seat, and the residences of the President and the Prime Minister. In just four days since Mayor Balen’s instructions, the heaps of garbage on the premises of Singha Durbar have become a striking visual representation of the lack of coordination between the local and federal governments in Nepal. With the government seat generating five tons of waste every day, this situation highlights the urgent need for cooperation and action.
In a passionate Facebook post, Mayor Balen has squarely placed the blame on the federal government's irresponsibility and negligence for the decision. He has urged the federal government to "untie the knots" and work collaboratively with local officials to resolve local problems at the local level. The Mayor's stance is a powerful reminder that effective governance requires cooperation and coordination between all levels of government, and that failure to do so can have serious consequences.
Mayor Shah's decision might seem extreme, but it is not without reason. According to the mayor, he has been continuously trying to coordinate with 14 different federal ministries to resolve various local issues, including management of squatters, traffic lights, footpath encroachment by diplomatic missions, hospitals, expansion of the Ring Road, and street lights, among others. But all his efforts have gone in vain due to the federal government's apathy. Balen has also made public these issues with various ministries as ’14 examples’ in his Facebook post.
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Clearly, the Mayor's decision has put Singha Durbar in a difficult position; a stinking government seat is not a good idea! Therefore, it is essential that the federal government takes the initiative to start a dialogue with the KMC and Mayor Balen to resolve the deadlock. Being the higher governing authority, the federal government is expected to show a bigger heart and work transparently to address the issues faced by the local government.
Needless to say, the federal government should not go for a ‘tit for tat’ response. Mayor Balen's decision to stop garbage collection from Singha Durbar may seem extreme, but it is important to recognize the underlying issues at play. The federal government's lack of coordination and non-cooperation with the local government has hindered progress on a variety of local issues that affect the daily lives of citizens. Mayor Balen's action most likely seems to be a result of his frustration with the federal government's inaction despite his repeated efforts to seek cooperation.
Therefore, it is imperative that the federal government, as the higher governing authority, shows a bigger heart and initiates a dialogue with KMC and Mayor Balen to resolve this deadlock in a transparent manner at the earliest possible. It is in everyone's best interest to work together to find a solution. It is time for the central government to take the initiative and work with the local government to address the issues faced by citizens in Kathmandu.
It is crucial that both sides avoid any further confrontation. Also, the federal government should acknowledge the issues raised by the KMC and work together with the local government to resolve them. The lack of coordination between the local and federal governments can only lead to further problems in the future. It is essential to address the issues faced by the people at the local level and the local government is expected to know that best while the central government is expected to assist the local government here.
The bottom line is both the federal and local governments should acknowledge the importance of working together to address the issues faced by the people at the local level.
