A municipality () in Nepal is an administrative division in the Provinces of Nepal. The urban population of Nepal refers to the inhabitants residing in the designated municipal area. Population size has been taken as the principal criteria in the declaration of urban areas in Nepal since 1961. Municipalities can therefore also include rural areas. It functions as a sub-unit of a district. Nepal currently has 293 municipalities, which given the 2011 population estimate of 16,656,057.
The municipalities are categorised into three categories: Metropolitan municipality (500,000+ population), Sub-metropolitan municipality (200,000+ population) and Municipality (10,000+ population). There are 6 metropolitan municipality, 11 sub-metropolitan municipality and 276 municipality.
History
The first urban center in Nepal took place in Kathmandu Valley. The historical evidences on the existence of towns in the Kathmandu Valley are found during Licchavi period. At the same time, three major towns with urban characteristics had been developed in the Kathmandu Valley. During the Rana period, towns in the hills were also as hill stations for the purpose of administration and as an outpost against invaders. Towns like Dhankuta in East Nepal, Palpa in Central Nepal and Doti in West Nepal were initially developed as cantonments. Urban areas in the Terai developed because of trade between Nepal and British India. The British had laid railway lines at the border of Nepal for the purpose of trade which gradually increased urban centers in the Terai. Although urban areas developed during Rana period or before it were not officially recorded. Kathmandu was given the status of municipality in 1930 but was only gazetted in 1953. Dharan was established in 1958 as a fourth municipality of the country
Structure and responsibilities As defined by Part 17 of the Constitution of Nepal, the municipalities are governed by a Municipal Executive headed by a mayor. The Municipal Executive consists of the deputy mayor, ward chairpersons elected from each ward in the municipality, and five women members elected by the Municipal Assembly among themselves and three members from the Dalit or other minority communities. Part 18 of the Constitution of Nepal states that the Municipal Assembly hold all legislative powers of the municipality. It consists of the mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairpersons and four ward members elected from each of the wards in the municipality out of which at least two must be a woman. All members of the Dalit or minority communities that was elected to the Municipal Executive must be the members of the Municipal Assembly of the municipality for representing those communities. Part 17 also includes provisions for a Judicial Committee which is headed by the deputy mayor and consists of two other members elected by the Municipal Assembly among themselves. Schedule 8 and Schedule 9 of the constitution deals with powers that the local executive can execute either on its own or concurrently with the federal and the provincial governments.
Classification
Metropolitan Municipality According to the Local Government Operation Act 2017 a metropolitan municipality must have following criteria to get the status of Metropolitan Municipality:
Population: 500,000+ Annual Income (in NPR): 1,00,00,00,000+ Infrastructures: Educational institute up to the higher level, medical services, hospitals, transportation facilities, metalled road, communication services, Museum, stadium, assembly hall and exhibition area of international standard. Sufficient recreation places for children and elderly people, Basic water supply and sanitation services. Garbage treatment and management system, Shopping mall, vegetable and fruit market, hotels of international standards. Urban greenery and scenic beauty, etc. as prescribed by government.
Sub-metropolitan Municipality A sub-metropolitan municipality must have to fulfill following criteria:
Population: 200,000+ Annual Income (in NPR): 250,000,000+ Infrastructures: higher-level education, medical services, hospitals, transportation facilities, metalled road, basic communication services, Public garden, assembly hall, stadium, gym hall and covered hall of national standard, Basic water supply and sanitation services. Garbage treatment and management system, Market place, animal slaughter houses, human corpses disposal place. Hotel, motel and resorts of tourism standards. Disable friendly and physically accessible infrastructures.
Municipality A municipality must have to fulfill following criteria:
Population: 10,000+ in mountainous areas of Mountainous districts, 40,000+ in hilly areas of Mountainous and Hilly districts, 50,000+ in Inner Terai districts, 75,000+ in Terai Districts and 100,000+ in districts of Kathmandu Valley. Annual Income (in NPR): 10,000,000+ in mountainous areas and 30,000,000+ in other areas. Infrastructures: road, electricity, drinking water, communication services and other minimum city facilities.
List of Municipalities by the date of establishment 1953 to 1997 There were 58 traditional municipalities which were established from 1953 to 1997. (Below given population are prior to reconstruction in 2017. In 2017, more area and population added to given municipality.) Year Municipality Population (2011)1953Kathmandu 975,4531953 Bhaktapur 81,748 1953Lalitpur 220,8021953 Birgunj 135,9041953 Biratnagar 201,125 1953Bhadrapur 18,1641957Tansen29,0951959 Rajbiraj37,7381959Butwal118,4621958 Dharan 133,0821962 Ilam 18,6331962 Janakpur 97,7761962Nepalganj 72,5031962Pokhara 255,4651967Siddharthanagar63,4831969 Hetauda 135,7451976Birendranagar85,1381976Dhangadhi101,9701976Lahan33,6531977Bheemdatta104,5991978Bharatpur143,8361978Dhankuta26,4401978Ghorahi 62,9281982Banepa 24,7641982Damak 75,1021982 Jaleshwar23,5331982 Kalaiya 42,8261982Dipayal Silgadhi 23,4161982 Kapilvastu* (renamed asTaulihawa) 30,428
Year Municipality Population (2011)1986Bidur 26,7501986 Dhulikhel 14,2831986Inaruwa 28,4541986 Malangwa25,1021992Gaur34,9371992Tulsipur51,5371992Vyas42,8991997 Amargadhi21,2451997 Baglung29,3601997 Bhimeshwar22,5371997 Dasharathchand16,7911997 Gorkha (Prithvinarayan)32,4731997 Gulariya55,7471997 Itahari74,5011997 Kamalamai39,4131997 Khandbari26,3011997 Kirtipur65,6021997 Lekhnath*(merged with Pokhara later)58,8161997Madhyapur Thimi83,0361997Mechinagar57,5451997Narayan21,1101997Panauti27,3581997Putalibazar30,7041997Ramgram25,9901997Ratnanagar46,3671997Siraha28,4421997Tikapur56,1271997Triyuga70,0001997Waling24,006
2014 Total 133 municipalities were established in 2014 in two segments but on 10 March 2017 reconstructed local level body and brought changing in some of municipalities. Some municipality completely disestablished (declined)
72 municipalities were established on 18 May 2014
61 new Municipalities were established on 2 December 2014.
2015 Total 26 municipalities were established on 19 September 2015. Reconstructed on 10 March 2017 with some changing in existed municipalities.
2017 On 10 March 2017 Government of Nepal reconstructed old local level bodies into 744 new local level units as per the new constitution of Nepal 2015. Later, on recommendance of Supreme court 9 more local level body added to Province No. 2, increasing from 744 to 753.
See also List of cities in Nepal List of rural municipalities of Nepal List of cities in Nepal by population
References