Lumbini Province Government Reshuffles Five Ministers Amidst Budget Finalization

Butwal. With the annual policy and program of the Lumbini Province Government already passed, ministers of five ministries have been reshuffled. It is estimated that the budget will be somewhat affected due to the change of ministers while ministries are in the final stage of budget preparation and entering plans and programs according to the ceiling.

The Province Assembly passed the annual policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year on Jestha 13. After that, Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya removed 4 ministers from UML and one minister from JSP Nepal on Jestha 20 and appointed new ministers. The newly appointed ministers took the oath of office and assumed their duties on Monday.

A secretary of the provincial government said that due to the change of ministers during the budget preparation period, there is a possibility of re-discussion on ministry-wise plans and some programs being removed and new ones being added. According to him, some adjustments may be made in the budget that has reached the final stage according to the priorities of the new leadership.

The Ministry of Finance has already provided the budget ceiling to the ministries. Programs of complementary and conditional grants from the federal government are also being added.

Dhanishwar Aryal, spokesperson and under-secretary of the Lumbini Province Ministry of Economic Affairs, told Ratopati that the budget preparation work is progressing rapidly. He said that although the change of ministers will not have a major impact on budget preparation, a normal effect is natural.

"The work of entering plans and programs is being done on the basis of the ceiling provided to the ministries," Aryal said, "Even with the new ministers, it is natural to cut and add some plans within that limit."

The provincial government is preparing to bring a budget of around 35 billion rupees for the upcoming fiscal year. A budget of 38.91 billion rupees was allocated for the current fiscal year. However, due to the decrease in internal resources and the reduction in federal grants, the budget size is estimated to decrease slightly this year.

Ministers Say - Budget Will Be Even Better

The newly appointed ministers of Lumbini Province have pledged to accelerate the overall development of the province through their respective ministries and said that the budget will be made even better. They claimed that the budget would naturally be attractive and effective.

Newly appointed Health Minister Ramji Ghimire said that plans will be brought to directly connect health services with the public. He mentioned that the budget will be prepared by prioritizing hospital upgrades, increasing the efficiency of employees, and improving services. "The upcoming plans will be directly connected with the public," he said.

Tulsiprasad Chaudhary, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Cooperatives, said that new programs will be introduced by connecting the agricultural sector with entrepreneurship. He said that there is still some time for budget preparation, so effective plans can be added.

Similarly, Dilliraj Bhusal, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the potential for energy in the province is high, and old studies will be implemented and plans will be expanded through new studies. He said that the budget will be allocated for irrigation based on need.

Finance Minister Dhanendra Karki said that although the ministers were changed in the final stage, the budget will be refined through coordination. He informed that the plans received from the ministries will be included according to priority and need.

Minister Karki revealed that the newly appointed ministers can add programs they deem appropriate.

Humraj Bhusal, coordinator of the Economic Research Center Lumbini, commented that the change of ministers at the last moment will lead to instability in the budget preparation process and may also have a negative impact on the implementation of federalism.