Nepal's Ministry of Defence Reviews Mid-Year Progress on Development Projects and Budget Spending

Kathmandu. A review meeting was held on Thursday concerning the progress of various development projects and programs operated by the bodies under the Ministry of Defence during the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2082/83, along with the Ministry-level Development Problem Resolution Committee meeting.

During the meeting chaired by the Ministry's Secretary, Kedarnath Sharma, an updated status report was presented on the programs and development projects currently underway by the Ministry of Defence and its subordinate bodies up to the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

As of the end of Poush (mid-January) of the current fiscal year, 45.82 percent of the total budget allocated to the Ministry of Defence and its subordinate bodies has been spent. Furthermore, only 6 percent progress has been achieved in settling the total outstanding liabilities (Berujju) of NPR 3.065 billion that need to be cleared in the current fiscal year. The meeting also discussed the problems and challenges observed in project implementation.

Among the total of eight major development construction projects operational during this period, it was informed that five projects—the Khandbari-Kimathanka Road Corridor, Karnali Corridor, Benighat-Arughat-Larke Bhanjyang, National Defence University, and the Bunker to Barrack program, all assigned to the Nepali Army—have achieved progress exceeding 80 percent.

The Ministry stated that three projects—the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes Expressway Road Project, the Darchula Tinkar (Tusharapani-Tinkar) Road Project, and the National Chure Conservation Program—have achieved less than 80 percent progress due to various reasons.

During the review period, it was informed that various high-level monitoring and inspections were conducted to resolve issues in problematic areas, including the starting point section (Khokana) of the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes Expressway Road Project, and various efforts were made for problem resolution.

Additionally, it was reported that as of the end of Poush of the current fiscal year, 35 individuals, including 20 post-natal mothers, were rescued by air. A contingent of 1,389 troops was deployed to control fires and wildfires in various parts of the country, and 2,727 individuals involved in various incidents in different districts were rescued.

Moreover, it was presented that free health camp services were operated at 29 locations across 25 districts of the country, providing medical treatment to 13,887 people, along with snakebite treatment services to 352 individuals.

The meeting was also briefed on the work carried out by the Army regarding nature conservation and international peacekeeping.

Ministry Secretary Sharma directed the respective project chiefs to work towards achieving further progress in the development programs and projects operational in the current fiscal year in the days ahead.

He particularly emphasized accelerating the progress of the national pride project, the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes Expressway Road Project, and working towards a significant improvement in capital expenditure.

Secretary Sharma instructed all project chiefs to achieve the set targets and milestones for the remaining period of the current fiscal year, prioritizing the clearance of outstanding liabilities (Berujju).

In the meeting, Joint Secretary Krishna Paudel, Chief of the Planning and International Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry, presented the current progress status of development projects and programs operated under the Ministry and the Nepali Army during the current fiscal year, along with the major problems and challenges observed in project implementation.