With the current fiscal year 2080-81 BS (2023-24) drawing to a close, the Bagmati Province government’s budget expenditure has raised eyebrows due to its lackluster performance. According to the latest reports from the Province Treasury Comptroller Office in Hetauda, the province’s budget expenditure has reached a mere 38.92 percent as of the eleventh hour.
Slow Spending Hampering Development Efforts
The province’s expenditure over the past 10 months stands at a meager 24 billion 407 million rupees, a figure that has raised concerns among stakeholders and citizens alike. Of this total, 11 billion 415 million rupees have been allocated towards current expenditures, while 12 billion 992 million rupees have been directed towards capital expenditures, as revealed by Office Chief Hari Prasad Upadhayay.
Uneven Distribution of Funds
An analysis of the spending patterns reveals an uneven distribution of funds across various sectors. The highest allocation of 8 billion 698 million rupees has been directed towards physical infrastructure development, followed by 2 billion 860 million rupees towards the crucial sectors of drinking water, energy, and irrigation. The Social Development Ministry has received 1 billion 860 million rupees, while the Forest and Environment Ministry has been allocated 1 billion 230 million rupees.
Other ministries and agencies have received relatively smaller allocations, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock receiving 810 million rupees, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Cooperatives receiving 633 million rupees, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law receiving 196 million rupees, the Office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers receiving 174 million rupees, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning receiving 95 million rupees. The Province Assembly Secretariat has spent 145 million rupees during this period.
Ambitious Budget, Sluggish Implementation
For the current fiscal year, the Bagmati Province government had allocated an ambitious budget, with 26 billion 421 million rupees earmarked for current expenditures, 35 billion 787 million rupees for capital expenditures, and 500 million rupees for financial management. However, the sluggish implementation of this budget has raised concerns about the province’s ability to meet its development goals and address pressing issues effectively.
As the fiscal year draws to a close, stakeholders and citizens alike are calling for a concerted effort from the provincial government to accelerate budget execution and ensure that funds are utilized efficiently and transparently. Failure to do so could potentially hinder the province’s progress and hamper its ability to deliver on its promises to the people of Bagmati.
