Small projects delaying budget discussion in parliament

KATHMANDU, July 28:

Failure of concerned ministries to present breakdown of budgets allocated for districts in time has affected discussion on the budget in parliament.

The parliament had asked National Planning Commission (NPC) submit details of budget breakdowns by 21. But NPC couldn't submit the details to parliament, as ministries haven't furnished the details to it till Tuesday.
Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang made a ruling on budget breakdowns on Tuesday, asking the government to submit details of budget allocated for districts at the earliest.

After tabling of the budget in parliament on July 14, the parliament had asked ministries to send breakdown of projects by July 21. But parliament has no business since July 23 because of the failure of the ministries to submit details of budget breakdowns.

Sudarshan Kuinkel, deputy spokesperson of Parliament Secretariat, said implementation of development projects will be affected if the budget is not approved by the parliament at the earliest.

NPC has already submitted Appropriation Bill in the parliament. It has submitted lump sum figures of development budget allocated for the districts.

The problem occurred because of the government decision to not publish Part II book of small projects, former finance minister Surendra Pandey said.

NPC Vice Chairman Govind Raj Pokhrel said that ministries will submit project details by Friday.

Only Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of Industry have got approval from NPC so far. Many other ministries, particularly those dealing with development works, are yet to get NPC approval for budget spending.

Source: Republica