Kailali local levels spend lakhs annually on plan monitoring amid ineffectiveness

Kailali: Local governments in Kailali have been spending significant amounts of money each year in the name of plan monitoring, but reports indicate that the process is largely ineffective and often mismanaged.

In Godavari Municipality, a total of 36 road projects were planned for completion in the fiscal year 2080/81. Despite awarding contracts, the blacktop work on one road remained unfinished, yet the municipality spent Rs 173,450 on monitoring that project and others, including market oversight. Monitoring activities, often conducted by large teams during Dashain and Tihar with allowances for lunch, did not lead to any accountability for errors, and no formal report was submitted following these exercises.

The Auditor General's Office highlighted that the municipality spent more on visits and allowances than on effective monitoring. It recommended that monitoring expenditures be justified and carried out efficiently to ensure results.

The fiscal year 2081/082 saw no improvement. During 205 monitoring sessions, Rs 170,000 was spent on lunch alone, with Rs 101,000 from the municipal budget, Rs 51,000 from the executive, and Rs 31,000 from the ward market.

Under the Local Government Operation Act 2074, the vice-chairman of municipalities is responsible for monitoring and supervising plans and programs and submitting reports. Godavari Municipality also established a monitoring and supervision procedure in 2076 to ensure timely project completion, quality, and good governance. The procedure mandates monitoring of social inclusion, public participation, implementation status, and installation of hoarding boards for projects above Rs 500,000, with reports to be submitted within 10 days. However, in practice, large teams are sent mainly to claim allowances, without meaningful follow-up.

Similarly, Lamki Chuha Municipality spent Rs 290,700 on monitoring allowances in 2080/081, contrary to Section 12 of the Local Level Officials and Facilities Act, 2075. Janaki Rural Municipality also distributed Rs 11,900 in monitoring allowances to public representatives, despite the deputy mayor being responsible for reporting to the executive. Deputy Chair Lalmati Devi Katharia stated that currently, only lunch expenses are charged, capped at Rs 850 per day, per project.

Nar Deep Dhami, Vice-Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Sudurpaschim, criticized the misuse of monitoring funds, stating that allowances are being prioritized over actual oversight. He highlighted that vigilance and legal measures are necessary to address these issues.

Durga Kumar Pokharel, a governance activist, said that local monitoring is often superficial, avoiding areas with errors. He noted illegal mining in the Chure area and substandard development projects that remain unmonitored despite repeated complaints.

The Local Government Operation Act requires local projects to be monitored based on cost, results, timeline, and quality. A monitoring and evaluation committee, coordinated by the deputy mayor, is tasked with regular oversight, resolving disputes, and recommending corrective action. However, in most local governments, mayors and chairpersons dominate these responsibilities, while deputy mayors remain largely inactive. Experts say that staff are often groomed in the name of monitoring without contributing to effective oversight.