Kathmandu. The Bagmati State Government has presented the budget for the next fiscal year 2083/84 in the Bagmati State Assembly on Monday. Provincial Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Prabhat Tamang has presented the budget and program worth 66.93 billion 33 million rupees in the House.
43 billion 97 crore 14 lakh three thousand rupees or 65.69 percent of the total budget for capital, while 22 billion 96 crore 19 lakh 30 thousand rupees or 34.31 percent have been allocated for current expenses.
The provincial government has decided to reduce 6 ministries from the coming financial year and has allocated the budget for the remaining eight ministries. Out of which the largest budget has been allocated for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development. Out of the total budget, 25 billion 608 million 848 thousand rupees have been allocated only for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development for the work of the infrastructure sector.
The state government has allocated budget for programs including the feasibility study of the Bhimfedi Kulekhani tunnel, the feasibility study of metro rail operation in the Kathmandu Valley and the construction of a model ward.
Similarly, the lowest budget allocation for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning is 182,647,000 rupees. To make the plan selection and implementation process more orderly, transparent and result-oriented, the provincial government has also included institutional reform programs in the budget.
A budget has been arranged for the creation of integrated laws related to project selection criteria, biennial project management and project bank. In addition, the necessary budget has been allocated for the upgradation of the provincial project bank management information system, inter-commitment between different levels and maintenance.
Likewise, emphasis has been placed on developing a system that can monitor the implementation status of projects run by the state government in real time.
A budget of Rs 72 crore 77 lakh 57 thousand has been allocated for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Cooperatives. The provincial government has said that it has arranged the necessary arrangements for the management of troubled cooperatives and the protection of savers’ interests. Addressing the crisis of confidence in the cooperative sector, the government claims that the safety of the savers’ funds has been prioritized.
Similarly, the budget has been allocated for the establishment of collective enterprises through cooperative organizations, skill development, enhancement of financial literacy and the implementation of programs to expand the market access of products. The government has stated that it aims to advance the cooperative sector as an important basis for development of production, employment and entrepreneurship.
Five billion 375 crore 55 lakh 74 thousand rupees has been allocated for the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Labour. Three ministries were merged to form the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Labor. The budget has been allocated for enterprise expansion, protection and promotion of tourism sector, labor employment and transport sector.
Similarly, 6 billion 717 million 24 thousand rupees has been allocated for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Environment. Currently, these two ministries will be merged from the 1st of July.
In the agricultural sector, one ward, one enterprise sector, monkey control and agricultural subsidies are covered. According to the policy of ‘green forest: a means of prosperity’ towards forest and environment, necessary arrangements will be made to encourage enterprises based on forest production, green employment, tourism and protection, production, processing and marketing of timber, forest fruits and herbs.
In the construction of government structures, the use of wood produced in the province is prioritized, the use of native wood is made mandatory and the necessary arrangements are made to modify the price of forest-produced wood in a timely manner.
A budget of 9 billion 60 million rupees has been allocated for the Ministry of Health and Social Development. According to the government, the necessary budget has been arranged for the protection, rehabilitation and encouragement of children affected and at risk by child marriage.
Similarly, the necessary budget has been allocated for the social and economic upliftment of the Chepang community by continuing the ‘Chepang, Chiuri and Bats’ program. It is said that the program will be conducted with a focus on local resources, biological diversity and improving the quality of life of the community.
The cooperative road free province campaign, assistance, empowerment and rehabilitation programs for the disabled will be implemented in coordination with associations, local levels and non-governmental organizations. In addition, the budget also includes an empowerment program for the decent living of the sexual and gender minority communities and the provision of a residential school for children with intellectual disabilities. 51 crore 28 lakh budget has been allocated for the Madan Bhandari Institute of Health Sciences under the state pride scheme.
On the other hand, eight billion 900 million 61 lakh 85 thousand budget has been allocated for the Ministry of Water, Energy and Irrigation. Irrigation and drinking water sector has also been prioritized in the budget of the next financial year.
The concept of planned development is going to be implemented by collecting the actual data of the lands that have reached irrigation facilities and those that have not. For that, a budget has been allocated to study the potential of irrigation services and prepare a detailed inventory of projects such as tar irrigation and lift irrigation.
Adopting the slogan ‘Safe Drinking Water: Healthy Life’, the ‘Ek Ghar: Ek Dhara’ campaign is being intensified with the aim of providing clean drinking water within the reach of every citizen. It is said that the water supply project which has achieved significant progress will be completed, and the service expansion will be continued by strengthening and maintaining the successive plans under construction.
Similarly, a budget of 61.8 million 59 thousand rupees has been allocated for the office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. The Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers has prioritized the strengthening of federalism, capacity building of local governance and inclusive economic transformation in the budget.
In continuation of the state and local government empowerment program, 40.49 million rupees have been allocated for the local levels that are lagging behind in the human development index and 39.9 million rupees for the district coordination committee support program.
Similarly, 438 million rupees have been allocated to promote green economy, environment-friendly enterprise development and job creation through ‘Chief Minister Roads with Entrepreneurship Program’. In addition, it is mentioned in the budget statement that it is arranged in the budget to share in the government innovation challenge fund for effective implementation of federalism and improvement of local services.