Gandaki Province Government Finalizes Budget of Approximately 33 Billion

Pokhara. The Gandaki Province government has brought the budget writing for the upcoming financial year (2083/084) to the final stage. On Monday, Finance Minister Jit Bahadur Sherchan will present the budget for the coming year in the Provincial Assembly.

The Gandaki government is about to present a budget of approximately 33 billion for the coming year. The government, which initially stated it would bring a budget of 28 billion, is increasing the size of the budget as the central grant has increased somewhat and the carry-over from the current fiscal year is also expected to be higher than anticipated. According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, the unspent amount from the current year, estimated to be around 3 billion rupees, will be a major part of the upcoming year's budget.

Similarly, the grant from the federal government has also increased by about 750 million, and the government estimates that internal resources will also increase by about 500 million. "We were not planning to increase the budget, but the resources have become more than expected," said Dr. Krishnachandra Devkota, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission. "There has been an increase in royalty distribution, revenue sharing, and grants from the federal government. Adding all of them, the budget has increased by about 750 million. Our internal income has also increased by 40-50 million."

The government has set minimum ceilings for ministry-wise plans. The government has stated that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure will not create plans smaller than 2.5 million rupees, and the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Supply will not create plans smaller than 1 million rupees. However, small budgets necessary to complete old projects will be allocated.

"There will be clear ceilings for new projects. If there are old projects that must be completed, some adjustments can be made," Devkota said. Like in previous years, Gandaki will include internal debt in its budget this year as well. The title that has always been included in the budget but could not be collected is being included again this year.

• 30 Million Ceiling for MPs

In physical infrastructure, projects worth 15 million rupees have been given to all MPs. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply has allocated 50 million, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism 40 million for tourism, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth and Sports 30 million, and the Ministry of Forests and Environment 20 million rupees to all MPs. Calculating this way, each MP gets a ceiling of 29 million rupees.

In addition, MPs from direct elections have been given an additional 10 million rupees for multi-year road or bridge projects. Coordination with proportional MPs must also be done when selecting these projects.

With the ceiling given to everyone, the 59 MPs of the province will receive 1.71 billion rupees. In addition, 35 MPs from direct elections will receive an additional 350 million rupees. Calculating this way, 2.06 billion rupees need to be allocated. The position of MP Rajiv Gurung alias Deepak Manange, elected from Manang, is vacant. A total of 60 MPs, including 36 from direct elections and 24 from proportional representation, were elected in Gandaki. MPs have also demanded additional projects based on their influence.

"This is the ceiling given to everyone. MPs with influence have demanded more than this," said one MP. "Some have submitted project proposals worth tens of millions. It remains to be seen whether those projects will be included."

In the initial years, the Gandaki government used to provide 20 million rupees each as an electoral constituency infrastructure development program in the form of a Member of Parliament Development Fund. After widespread criticism and protest, that program has been removed in recent years. Even though the title has been removed, the budget given to MPs has not decreased.

The Provincial Government has created a project bank to prevent projects from being inserted from pockets. Although the ministries have also entered projects into the project bank, the budget is still being formed from pocket projects.