KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol has said that coordination between the metropolitan office and the federal government on urban development and management has become more effective, creating a smoother environment for cooperation.

Speaking at the 48th executive meeting of KMC, Dangol noted that with former KMC Mayor Balen Shah currently serving as Prime Minister, and individuals with expertise in urban development such as Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel and Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Sunil Lamsal in key federal roles, coordination has become more practical and result-oriented.

She expressed confidence that the presence of leaders familiar with local governance at the federal level would further ease collaboration in the days ahead. “The reputation of KMC has risen. This is a major opportunity for Kathmandu’s development,” she said.

The meeting approved two major operational procedures: the Disaster Management and Compensation Fund Operation Procedure 2082 and the Metro Mart Operation and Management Procedure 2082. It also granted policy-level agreement to amend three existing procedures, including the Labour Bank Operation Procedure 2080, Tourism Promotion Fund Operation Procedure 2078, and the Partnership and Investment Act 2079.

According to KMC Administration Division Chief Mahesh Kafle, the meeting also provided conceptual approval for drafting one new law, one standard, and eight additional procedures. These include legislation against all forms of workplace gender-based violence.

Among the proposed procedures are regulations for homestay registration and renewal, public procurement in community schools, scholarship management in institutional schools, and operation guidelines for early childhood development and child care centers.

Other frameworks include special education, alternative education, Guthi management in education, and the management of shelters for homeless and street-connected people. Additionally, a standard for operating temporary protection shelters has been approved in principle.