Kathmandu Metropolitan City Acting Chief Directs Frugal and Qualitative Growth in Capital Expenditure

Kathmandu. The Acting Chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Sunita Dangol, has directed for the frugal, qualitative, and quantitative increase in capital expenditure. She issued this directive during the budget and program implementation review meeting.

Dangol also told the departmental heads that it is equally important to assess how much benefit the implemented programs have provided to the people. "Analyze and measure the results of the implemented programs," she said, "Implement a written internal coordination system. This will increase accountability."

Mahesh Kafle, Chief of the Administration Department, stated that the department is focused on reducing administrative expenses. Sumitra Lamichhane Subedi, Chief of the Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, pointed out the need to review not only the programs but also the policies.

The department bearing the main burden of KMC's budget is the Department of Public Construction. Under this department, there are 191 projects with a budget of Rs 5.77 billion, which is 23 percent of KMC's total budget. Of these, 48 projects have been completed so far. Suresh Rai, Chief of the department, informed that Rs 1.55 billion has been paid for these projects.

This represents a financial progress of 26.8 percent. According to him, under the dust-free program, the financial progress is 76 percent in the eastern region, 68 percent in the northern region, 67 percent in the central region, and 30 percent in the western region.

Under 'Bright Kathmandu,' high-mast lights have been installed in 62 locations. Its physical progress is 95 percent, while the financial progress is 50 percent. Emergency maintenance work has achieved about 70 percent physical progress.

The Education Department has 119 programs to implement. Namraj Dhakal, the department chief, stated that there are 89 new programs. Sixteen of these are operated under the conditional grant from the Federal Government.

The Health Department reported that it is implementing 187 programs: 30 programs from the Federal Government budget amounting to Rs 95.4 million, three programs from the Provincial Government budget amounting to Rs 21.9 million, and 154 programs from KMC's internal budget amounting to Rs 862.642 million.