MP Kerung Criticizes Low Budget Allocation for Development Projects

Kathmandu. MP Narendra Kumar Kerung has criticized the government's practice of allocating low budgets for development projects. Speaking during a discussion in the Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament, MP Kerung said that large projects remain stalled due to small budget allocations.

Giving an example of his home district, Panchthar, he said, 'Our district has a blacktopped road to be built, but the budget is only 5 lakh rupees. This is very ridiculous.' He argued that projects under the name of multi-year projects, with small budgets allocated from the center, would never be completed and the public would suffer.

MP Kerung demanded that the criteria for the government's policy of including 'new and good' projects in the budget should be clear. He drew the Finance Minister's attention to include the 'Tamor Dam' project, considered important for the development of Koshi Province, in the list of new and effective projects. 'Tamor Dam is a project that will change the destiny of Koshi Province. The Ministry of Finance should pay special attention to this,' he said.

Similarly, he expressed concern over the halt of development construction work across the country due to the increase in the price of construction materials. Stating that contractors are unable to proceed with the work due to price increases, he said that the government should come up with a clear policy on 'price adjustment'.

During the discussion, he informed that he would soon submit written suggestions to the Ministry of Finance regarding the district's plans and development needs.