Government Allocates Significant Budget for Lumbini Province Infrastructure and Development

Butwal. Presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084 in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament, the government has allocated a significant budget for various infrastructure, tourism, industry, road, and irrigation sectors in Lumbini Province.

The budget presented by Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle prioritizes the road and irrigation sectors of Lumbini Province.

The government has announced that it will collaborate with the private sector for the operation and management of Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. It is also mentioned that the Terigaun Airport in Dang will be upgraded.

The government aims to complete the Siddhababa tunnel route within this fiscal year. The budget also mentions that the construction of the Butwal-Pokhara section of the Siddhartha Highway will begin as an express highway. Similarly, it has been announced that the Butwal-Narayangadh road will be completed within this fiscal year, construction of the Butwal-Gorusinghe road will be expedited, and the 80-kilometer Dhankhola-Lamahi road in Dang will be upgraded. A study for the upgrade of the Chandrauta-Dhankhola road will also be conducted.

The government has allocated a budget of 83 crore rupees for the integrated development of the greater Lumbini region. The budget mentions that integrated development programs will be carried out, encompassing Lumbini, Tilaurakot, Ramgram, and Devdaha. The government has also stated that necessary efforts will be made to enlist Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In terms of industrial sectors, it has been announced that the responsibility for the construction and operation of the Motipur Industrial Area and Mayurdhap Industrial Area in Rupandehi will be handed over to the private sector.

The Rajapur Irrigation Project in Bardiya will be restored. Under the Sikta Irrigation Project in Banke, a budget of 2.55 billion rupees has been allocated with the goal of providing irrigation facilities to an additional 5,000 hectares of land in the eastern and western parts of Banke. Similarly, 1.21 billion rupees have been allocated to expand irrigation facilities to an additional 2,380 hectares of land through the Greater Dang Valley Irrigation Project and Praganna-Badhkapath Irrigation Project.

Likewise, preparatory work will be carried out with the objective of expanding irrigation facilities to the Kapilvastu region from the Naumure Hydropower Project. Further studies related to this project will be conducted, and another study will be carried out on the possibility of providing irrigation to Kapilvastu from the hydropower project. The restoration and maintenance work of the Banganga Irrigation Project in Kapilvastu will also be undertaken.

Similarly, disability rehabilitation centers will be constructed in all provinces, and hospitals will be built in all local levels. Swargadwari and Ruru areas will be expanded as further tourist destinations, and a high tourist route connecting Swargadwari and Muktinath will be developed, the government has announced. The integrated check post (ICP) under construction in Bhairahawa will be completed and brought into operation as soon as possible.

Under the sports sector, the government has announced the upgrade of various football stadiums with floodlights. Butwal is also on this list, and local sports enthusiasts are excited after the announcement of the upgrade of the Butwal Stadium.

Similarly, the construction of the New Butwal transmission line will be expedited, and the construction of the cross-border Butwal-Gorakhpur transmission line will also be accelerated.

What does the Finance Minister of Lumbini Province say?

Lumbini Province Finance Minister Dhanendra Karki has given a positive feedback on the budget presented by the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year. Talking to Ratopati, he said that the budget is 'okay,' citing that the budget has provided tax exemptions in some areas and has sought additional sources of income through the construction of new laws.

He indicated that the implementation of the budget will be challenging, expressing the view that the government should be serious about potential problems in revenue collection. 'The language of the budget is good, but its impact depends on how it is implemented,' he commented.

Finance Minister Karki mentioned that the federal government has allocated a budget for some infrastructure projects in Lumbini Province and stated that other projects missed in the province will be included through the upcoming provincial budget. According to him, since the federal budget itself is the main basis for constructing the provincial budget, the Lumbini Province government is preparing to focus on building its budget accordingly.

He said that at present, rather than making unnecessary comments on the federal budget, the public will be watching whether its implementation is effective or not.