Provinces Fare Worse in Budget Expenditure: Only 49 Percent of Total Budget Spent till June 15 of Current FY

The provinces have spent only half of their budget as of June 15 in the current Fiscal Year 2022/23. Out of the total budget of Rs 306 billion allocated by the provinces for this fiscal year, only Rs 151.3 billion has been spent, accounting for 49.45 percent of the total annual allocations.

According to the data on budget expenditure shared by the Office of the Comptroller General, Koshi Province has the highest expenditure rate at 61.41 percent, while the Madhes Province has the lowest at 36.25 percent during the last 11 months of the current fiscal year.

During this period, Bagmati Province has expended 50.62 percent of its budget, Gandaki Province 48.19 percent, Lumbini Province 55.54 percent, Karnali Province 45.60 percent, and Sudurpaschim Province 48.54 percent. The average expenditure towards current expenditure is 55.68 percent, while it is 46.11 percent towards capital expenditure.

Koshi Province:
Koshi Province had allocated a total budget of Rs 39.91 billion for the current fiscal year, and the expenditure until June 15 amounted to Rs 24.51 billion. Out of the total allocation of Rs 16.62 billion, the province has spent Rs 11.65 billion (70 percent) on current expenditure and Rs 12.86 billion (55 percent) out of the total allocation of Rs 23.29 billion on capital expenditure.

Madhes Province:
The budget expenditure of Madhes Province is the lowest compared to other provinces. The province allocated a budget of Rs 46.98 billion for the current fiscal year and has spent only Rs 17 billion until June 15, accounting for 36.25 percent of the total annual budget allocations.

Madhes Province has spent 33 percent on current expenses and 38.34 percent on capital expenditures during the 11 months of the current fiscal year. Out of the allocated Rs 20.8 billion for current expenditure, the province has spent Rs 6 billion 996 million 700 thousand. Similarly, out of the allocated Rs 26.18 billion for capital expenditure, the province has spent Rs 10 billion, which is 38 percent of the allocation.

Bagmati Province:
Bagmati Province allocated a budget of Rs 70 billion 939 million 200 thousand for the current fiscal year and has spent Rs 35.91 billion, which is 50.62 percent of the total budget, until June 15. The budget expenditure of this province includes 61.61 percent towards current expenses, 46 percent towards capital expenditure, and 30 percent towards fiscal management during this period.

The province allocated Rs 26.84 billion for current expenditure and has spent Rs 16.53 billion. Similarly, out of the allocated Rs 42 billion 90 million for capital expenditure, the province has spent Rs 19.37 billion. Rs 2 billion was allocated for fiscal management, and the expenditure under this heading is Rs 600 million.

Gandaki Province:
Out of the allocated budget of over Rs 35.9 billion for Gandaki Province in the current fiscal year, Rs 17.3 billion has been spent as of June 15, which accounts for 48 percent. Of the allocated amount for current expenditures (over Rs 12.8 billion), Rs 6.9 billion (54 percent) has been spent, and for capital expenditures (over Rs 22.5 billion), Rs 10.3 billion (45.82 percent) has been spent.

Lumbini Province:
Lumbini Province has spent Rs 23.7 billion out of the total allocated budget of Rs 42.7 billion, which is 55.54 percent. Under current expenditures, Rs 10.9 billion (61.20 percent) of the allocated Rs 17.9 billion has been spent, and under capital expenditures, Rs 12.7 billion (51.45 percent) of the allocated Rs 24.7 billion has been spent.

Karnali Province:
Out of the allocated budget of Rs 32.7 billion for Karnali Province, Rs 14.9 billion (45.60 percent) has been spent. Of the allocated amount for current expenditures (Rs 13.8 billion), Rs 7.1 billion (53.64 percent) has been spent, and for capital expenditures (Rs 19.6 billion), Rs 7.9 billion (40.25 percent) has been spent.

Sudurpaschim Province:
Sudurpaschim Province has spent Rs 17.8 billion (48.54 percent) out of the allocated budget of Rs 36.7 billion. Under current expenditures, Rs 6.7 billion (55.32 percent) of the allocated Rs 12.2 billion has been spent, and under capital expenditures, Rs 11.7 billion (45.71 percent) of the allocated Rs 24.2 billion has been spent.

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