Rs 50m funds will widen disparities: NPC head

KATHMANDU, July 5 :

The proposed Rs 50 million allocation for each parliamentary constituency will create huge disparities between developed and underdeveloped districts.

Underdeveloped districts such as Dolpa, Solukhumbu and Manang will receive only Rs 50 million whereas Morang and Jhapa, both developed districts, will receive Rs 450 million and Rs 400 million respectively, for example. Kathmandu alone will receive Rs 500 million.

Vice-chairman of National Planning Commission Gobinda Raj Pokhrel has expressed dissatisfaction over the budgetary demand for Rs 50 million per constituency, saying this will only fuel disparity among the districts.

One day after the parliamentary committee of the Nepali Congress decided to demand hefty amounts for the development of each constituency, official of the government´s planning agency said the disparity will be huge in terms of infrastructure building as carrying out infrastructure development in the remote districts costs more than in developed districts such as those in the Tarai and in the Valley. Those districts lack infrastructure and low investment cannot bring change in their villages. A more proportionate budget disbursement has been suggested. NPC has no data on disbursement for development work by district or by constituency.

Former CA member Hari Rokka said that this uneven budget allocation will be counter-productive and will create developmental disparity. “Migration from the hills and remote areas is increasing due to unavailability of basic facilities like education, health centers and roads,” said Rokka, adding that this uneven allocation will fuel further migration and imbalanced development.

However, he was also of the view that the constituency-wise budget disbursement can stop the prevailing practice of ministers and powerful leaders acting with highhandedness and concentrating budget allocations in their own constituencies.

He also expressed doubts about the proper utilization of the funds as there are no local bodies to implement the scheme.

The disparity is also striking development region-wise. The Eastern Development Region will receive Rs 2,800 million while the Central and Western Development Regions are to receive Rs 4,050 million and Rs 2,450 million respectively. The allocation will be Rs 1,650 million for the Mid-Western Development Region and Rs 1,050 million for the Far-Western Region.

Source: Republica