NC warns against distributive‚ populist budget
KATHMANDU:
The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) warned the government not to bring populist and distributive budget for the fiscal year 2011-12.
The party today submitted a 16-point memorandum to the Prime Minister Jhal Nath Khanal and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari asking the government to focus its budget on long-term vision in sustainable development, economic and financial stability and investment friendly environment.
“Nepali Congress has submitted its suggestions as a responsible opposition but, if the government ignores it, we could not support the policy and programme,” said acting president of Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Paudel.
“The budget should not be populist and distributive, as it seems to be from government’s current programmes,” he said, adding that Nepali Congress fears that the government is bringing budget to feed its cadres.
Capital investment on infrastructure projects, solutions to liquidity crunch and security of deposits in the banking and financial institutions are Nepali Congress’s key suggestions. “The budget should enhance investors’ and depositors’ confidence to ease current financial crisis,” said former finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.
“Budget must focus on corrective measures to the economy,” he said, adding that the country has to pay for the government’s wrong policy directions.
NC has given priority to community-based income generation and rural infrastructure development for growth in agriculture production and poverty alleviation. Likewise, the party has suggested to introduce cooperative farming and irrigation projects for agriculture growth.
It has also advised to allocate sufficient budget to Mid-Hill Highway, Hulaki Highway in Terai, fast-track road linking Kathmandu to Terai, Kulekhani-Bhimphedi tunnel-way, international airport in Neejgadh, all season road linking to Karnali zone and East-West railway.
“The government should improve roads of strategic importance to development,” it said, suggesting further reform in energy and irrigation sector policy and introduction of new projects like Sunkoshi and Bheri diversion, apartfrom development of planned settlements in Kathmandu Valley, controlling of price hike, support to conflict-hit and rebate to bank loans to small farmers.
The main opposition has urged the government to maintain financial discipline through eradicating trend of no- transparency in budget transferring system. It has requested to continue pro-people programmes like Poor with Bisheshwor, Ganeshman Shanti Campaign, and Karnali Employment Campaign.
“We hope the government will address the suggestions,” said NC Central Committee member Narahari Acharya.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister have promised to incorporate the suggestions from main opposition in words and norms wherever possible.
Source: THT
The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) warned the government not to bring populist and distributive budget for the fiscal year 2011-12.
The party today submitted a 16-point memorandum to the Prime Minister Jhal Nath Khanal and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari asking the government to focus its budget on long-term vision in sustainable development, economic and financial stability and investment friendly environment.
“Nepali Congress has submitted its suggestions as a responsible opposition but, if the government ignores it, we could not support the policy and programme,” said acting president of Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Paudel.
“The budget should not be populist and distributive, as it seems to be from government’s current programmes,” he said, adding that Nepali Congress fears that the government is bringing budget to feed its cadres.
Capital investment on infrastructure projects, solutions to liquidity crunch and security of deposits in the banking and financial institutions are Nepali Congress’s key suggestions. “The budget should enhance investors’ and depositors’ confidence to ease current financial crisis,” said former finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.
“Budget must focus on corrective measures to the economy,” he said, adding that the country has to pay for the government’s wrong policy directions.
NC has given priority to community-based income generation and rural infrastructure development for growth in agriculture production and poverty alleviation. Likewise, the party has suggested to introduce cooperative farming and irrigation projects for agriculture growth.
It has also advised to allocate sufficient budget to Mid-Hill Highway, Hulaki Highway in Terai, fast-track road linking Kathmandu to Terai, Kulekhani-Bhimphedi tunnel-way, international airport in Neejgadh, all season road linking to Karnali zone and East-West railway.
“The government should improve roads of strategic importance to development,” it said, suggesting further reform in energy and irrigation sector policy and introduction of new projects like Sunkoshi and Bheri diversion, apartfrom development of planned settlements in Kathmandu Valley, controlling of price hike, support to conflict-hit and rebate to bank loans to small farmers.
The main opposition has urged the government to maintain financial discipline through eradicating trend of no- transparency in budget transferring system. It has requested to continue pro-people programmes like Poor with Bisheshwor, Ganeshman Shanti Campaign, and Karnali Employment Campaign.
“We hope the government will address the suggestions,” said NC Central Committee member Narahari Acharya.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister have promised to incorporate the suggestions from main opposition in words and norms wherever possible.
Source: THT
