Per capita development expenditure at Rs 3‚076

KATHMANDU, AUG 10:

The government is spending an average of Rs 3,076 per person in development activities this fiscal year, down from Rs 3,772 in the fiscal year 2012-13 which ended on July 15.

“Per capita development expenditure fell this year as more budget was allocated for big-ticket central level projects, which are not taken into account while calculating development spending on every citizen,” said joint secretary of National Planning Commission Gopi Nath Mainali, further explaining that per capita development expenditure is derived using budget allocated for district-level projects.

Of the development expenses allocated for various districts this fiscal, per capita development expenditure is highest in Manang at Rs 38,140, while it is the lowest in Bara at Rs 1,718. Last fiscal, per capita development expenditure in Manang and Bara stood at Rs 43,790 and Rs 2,253, respectively.

Per capita development expenditure varies from district to district depending on the size of the population.

“For instance, Kathmandu district is receiving around Rs five billion for development expenses this fiscal, the highest among all districts. However, per capita development expenditure here is one of the lowest because of high population density,” said Mainali, adding, a comprehensive report on budget allocated for district-level development activities will be made public soon.

The government has allocated a total of Rs 241.58 billion for development activities this fiscal year, which is almost 47 per cent of the total budget of Rs 517.24 billion and almost thrice the

size of the capital budget of Rs 85.10 billion.

According to Mainali, road expansion drive will be receiving most of the funds allocated for development expenditure this fiscal, followed by construction of bridges. Next in the list of biggest development budget recipients are drinking water projects, followed by irrigation projects.

“The country is also spending quite a lot of money in the construction of temples and community buildings this fiscal,” Mainali pointed out.

These district level projects — technically known as Annual Development Program Volume 2 — were approved by a full meeting of the National Planning Commission chaired by chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi, on Thursday.

Although the government allocates huge budget for development activities every year, it fails to meet its development targets due to the inability to spend the money on time.

“But since we have approved the budget for district level projects on time this year, we hope various ministries will start implementing them immediately and make use of the funds allocated for them,” Mainali said.

Source: THT