GANDAKI PROVINCE ASSEMBLY PASSES BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2083/084

Pokhara. The budget (Appropriation Bill) brought by the Gandaki Province government for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084 has been passed by a majority in the Provincial Assembly. The budget, presented by the province's Minister for Economic Affairs on Ashad 1, was passed by the Provincial Assembly meeting on Wednesday after extensive discussion and review. The provincial government has presented a budget of a total of 32 billion 99 crore for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget was passed on Sunday after the Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Whips and Whips presented their views. The assembly's majority rejected the proposal to cut expenditure raised by the opposition party members. Addressing the assembly, Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey claimed that despite limited resources, the government has brought a balanced budget to address the unlimited needs of the people. He said that efforts have been made to include all districts and constituencies proportionally in the budget. 'We have limited resources, but the needs of the people are unlimited. This budget has attempted to address those needs in a balanced way,' he said, 'I am not saying there are no errors in the budget, but we have tried our best.' He stated that both the ruling and opposition parties have an equal role in its effective implementation. 'Both the ruling and opposition parties have an equal role in its effective implementation,' he said, 'I heartily urge everyone to move forward together for the prosperity of the province.' He clarified that in line with the spirit of federalism, the budget has prioritized agriculture, tourism, health, and infrastructure to strengthen the province. He also expressed commitment to incorporate and implement the positive suggestions raised by the opposition in response to the questions raised. Addressing the meeting, UML Parliamentary Party Leader and former Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari said that the government should accept and improve upon the questions raised by the members of parliament in the assembly. 'There are some who say the budget has come with fragmented plans, and some who say it has not come based on needs and priorities,' he said, defending the government, 'We have a multi-specific geography, a multi-ethnic geography, a multi-cultural geography, and we have to provide something to everyone in the budget. Our cultural heritage needs to be repaired and built.' Adhikari said that the issues raised in the house regarding prestigious projects and incomplete projects were positive. 'There are concerns that some prestigious projects have been overlooked. We have taken some old matters, and we are also thinking about some matters in a new way,' he added, 'The issue that sufficient attention has not been paid to completing incomplete projects has also been raised here. This should be accepted.' Earlier, in the meeting, Provincial Assembly members Prakash Baral, Devaka Pahari Tripathi, Haribahadur Bhandari, and Bindu Poudel, among others, drew the government's attention to budget implementation and the problems in their respective constituencies. Responding to the questions raised in the discussion, Minister for Economic Affairs Jit Bahadur Sherchan said that the government has adopted a policy of increasing the scope rather than the tax rate to make the province self-reliant. He informed that the government is trying to bring unregistered vehicles into the legal framework by waiving fines and penalties on vehicle taxes and renewals. 'We have given an opportunity to renew vehicles that are registered but cannot be operated or cannot pay taxes by waiving the fines,' he said, 'This will reduce the tax burden and increase revenue collection.' The largest share of the budget allocated by the government for the upcoming year has gone to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development with 11 billion 96 crore rupees. This amount is 36.27 percent of the total budget. The next ministry to receive the largest budget is the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply. It has received a budget of 4 billion 77 crore, or 14.47 percent. The Ministry of Health will receive 10 percent of the budget, which is 3 billion 31 crore, while the Ministry of Social Development, Youth and Sports will receive 2 billion 16 crore 80 lakh rupees. The Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives received 6 percent of the budget. 2 billion rupees have been allocated for the Ministry of Agriculture. 88 crore 90 lakh has been set aside for the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers' office, and 22 crore 78 lakh for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has received 92 crore 49 lakh, and the Ministry of Forest and Environment has received 1 billion 21 crore rupees. Comparing the budget, the provincial government has given more priority to physical infrastructure development and energy sectors, while the budget for social development has been reduced.