Bagmati Province Government Spends 68.58% of Budget for FY 2082/083

Makwanpur. The Bagmati Province Government has implemented 68.58 percent of the budget for the fiscal year 2082/083. According to the preliminary details released by the Provincial Treasury Comptroller Office, the government has spent a total of 46 billion 277 million 771 thousand 928 rupees out of the total allocated 67 billion 478 million 327 thousand rupees by June 25.

According to the statistics, the percentage of capital (development) expenditure is slightly higher than the current expenditure. Out of the allocated 25 billion 813 million 590 thousand rupees for current expenditure, 17 billion 637 million 432 thousand rupees (68.33 percent) have been spent, while out of the 41 billion 664 million 736 thousand rupees allocated for capital expenditure for development, 28 billion 640 million 287 thousand rupees (68.74 percent) have been spent.

• Physical Infrastructure Expenditure High

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, which has the largest budget in the province, has spent comparatively more. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development had spent 14 billion 232 million 35 thousand rupees by June 25. This is 63.39 percent of the ministry's total budget.

The Ministry of Drinking Water, Energy and Irrigation has spent 86.77 percent (7 billion 396 million 10 thousand rupees) of its budget, while the Ministry of Social Development has spent 73.06 percent (2 billion 778 million 30 thousand rupees) of its budget.

The Ministry of Health has spent 3 billion 183 million 30 thousand rupees (77.29 percent) out of its 4 billion 118 million 90 thousand rupees budget, while the Ministry of Forests and Environment has spent 82.68 percent (3 billion 734 million 60 thousand rupees) of its budget. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Law has spent 78.41 percent of its budget.

However, the expenditure status in some headings of the provincial government appears to be very low. Although budget has been allocated for employee benefits and retirement benefits and miscellaneous-finance headings, no expenditure has been observed until June 25. The Provincial Policy and Planning Commission has spent 44.46 percent and the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Transport has spent 64.64 percent.

The expenditure of the Provincial Legislature is 63.19 percent, while the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers has spent 60.82 percent of its budget. According to Hari Prasad Upadhyay, chief of the Provincial Treasury and Comptroller Office, Bagmati Province, the expenditure details are preliminary and the percentage of expenditure is expected to increase by the end of the fiscal year.

For local levels, out of the allocated 8 billion 658 million 90 thousand rupees, 7 billion 598 million 20 thousand rupees (87.75 percent) have been disbursed, he said.

The provincial government spent only 10 percent of the total budget in the month of Jestha last. The provincial government had spent 34.06 percent (22 billion 982 million 552 thousand rupees) of the total allocated amount by the end of Baishakh, while it spent 10.86 percent, or 6 billion rupees, of the total allocated amount in the month of Jestha alone.

The pace of budget expenditure, which increased from Jestha, further accelerated in the month of Ashar. According to the Provincial Treasury Comptroller Office, Hetauda, the total expenditure of the provincial government reached 44.92 percent by the end of Jestha, and increased to 68.58 percent in Ashar.

The status of capital expenditure related to the provincial government's development construction also increased in the month of Jestha. While capital expenditure was only 28.59 percent by the end of Baishakh, it reached 39.28 percent by the end of Jestha, and 68.74 percent by the end of Ashar.