Finance Minister States MPs Prioritize Small Projects Over Policy Debate

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has stated that the Members of Parliament are coming with small projects rather than policy debates in the budget formulation process.  

Speaking in a discussion at the Finance Committee on Tuesday, Finance Minister Wagle informed that MPs are still demanding budget for small schemes like roads, drinking water, and irrigation in their respective constituencies.

Finance Minister Wagle clarified that no project is directly entered by the Ministry of Finance. He stated that the Ministry of Finance gives final approval only to projects proposed by the concerned line ministries according to the current practice. The government is firm on the principle that road projects should be advanced by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, drinking water projects by the Ministry of Drinking Water, and so on, according to the concerned bodies.  

He emphasized that the federal budget should now focus on plans that align with major policy priorities, the 16th periodic plan, the medium-term expenditure framework, and the roadmap for governance reform.

Regarding the demands of the MPs, Finance Minister Wagle said, 'MPs are meeting me individually and collectively. However, I have clarified that many MPs come to ask for the budget. They come asking for small projects rather than policy matters. For some years, our practice has been that the Ministry of Finance does not enter. If the project is related to roads, it should come from the Ministry of Roads; if it is water, it should come from the Ministry of Water; if it is soil, it should come from the Ministry of Soil. According to this principle, only after entering from the concerned ministry does it come to the Ministry of Finance. And for very justifiable programs that align with our 16th periodic plan, previous medium-term expenditure frameworks, our promises, our policies, our programs, our roadmap for governance reform, and also considering the commitments made by the honorable MPs in their constituencies, the Ministry of Finance will generously consider them within the limits of resources.'

The Finance Minister clarified that it would be difficult to include small and local projects in the federal budget as they should be implemented by the provinces and local levels. However, he stated that the ministries are currently practicing to see to what extent the suggestions given by the MPs can be fitted into the federal budget.  

He informed that the budget formulation process will enter a decisive phase after May 14 and will continue until the budget presentation day on May 29. While admitting that the current government took office only after the budget process had begun, he acknowledged the limited time for preparation and pledged to accommodate the MPs' interests as much as possible.