Gandaki State brings budget of Rs 34.84 billion for FY 2077/78

The Gandaki State government has unveiled a budget of Rs 34.84 billion for the fiscal year 2077/78. Economic Affairs and Planning Minister of Gandaki State Kiran Gurung tabled the budget with an allocation of Rs 14.84 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs 20 billion for capital expenditure.

Gurung said that Rs 500 million has been allocated for fiscal management. Saying that the budget was released in the midway of coronavirus pandemic, Gurung shared that that priority has been given for prevention and control of the pandemic with the allocation of Rs 604 million. Budget for the upcoming fiscal year has been curtailed in the unproductive sectors.

The budget would be used to procure PCR machines, medicines and other equipment and isolation wards would be added in all district hospitals, intensive care units would be run and hospitals’ physical infrastructure development would be developed.

Chief Minister Climate Agriculture Programme would be implemented for the development of agriculture sector and Rs 42.6 million has been allocated for the same, Economic Affairs Minister Gurung added.

Saying that apple farming programme would be given continuity in Mustang and Manang, Gurung stated that budget has been allocated for one crop, one production programme.

Likewise, Rs 1 billion has been allocated for the relief to the coronavirus-hit private sector.

Similarly, Rs 427.5 million has been allocated for would-be-established Gandaki University while Rs 10 million for the maintenance of Pokhara City Hall.

Furthermore, Rs 274.5 million budget is announced for the recovery of tourism in the entire districts of the State.

Minister Gurung said that Rs 184.2 million budget has been provided to needed skills, capital and technology for the generation of employment and make coronavirus affected youth self-employed. He announced that Rs 105 million has been allocated to jointly operate vocational and skill development training in partnership with the federal and local governments.

In agriculture, Rs 185 million has been allocated to operate coronavirus- targeted programmes and Rs 20.06 million for tourism.

Likewise, the constituency infrastructure development programme is given continuity with the provision to run projects for capital formation and employment generation so as to reduce the negative impact of the coronavirus. Gurung said Rs 2.91 billion has been announced for this programme.

All district hospitals would be upgraded to make 25-50 beds in partnership with the federal government and Dhaulagiri Hospital would be upgraded as a general hospital with 200 beds.

Minister Gurung also said that budget has been managed to begin specialized treatment service of kidney and heart disease in Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences.