Kathmandu, June 4: After the federal government unveiled budget for the fiscal year, 2024/25, comments from various sections have poured in whether the budget was enough for the respective areas and how capable were the institutions to spend the allocated budgets.
Stakeholders at a programme viewed although the budget increased in the infrastructure sector, government’s spending capacity was in question.
During a discussion on ‘infrastructure and construction in budget’ organized by the Nepal Infrastructures Journalists’ Society on Monday, the speakers said the most worrying problem is failure to spend budget in infrastructure projects.
Secretary at Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Gopal Prasad Sigdel, however, said not only government but also the construction entrepreneurs need to boost their capacities to spend budget. “We are compelled to visit Finance Ministry for minor change in budget, which is one of the reasons why spending in projects is low. This obligation must end,” he said, demanding authority to the concerned ministry secretaries to amend the plan and programmes of the budget.
He further viewed his ministry was responsible to deal out some Rs 250 billion. Nearly 95 percent of the ministry budget was on the projects put in priority by the ministry.
Sigdel announced that construction entrepreneurs would be given awards to hike spending.
Former secretary of Nepal government, Kishor Thapa, viewed it was not sure the construction entrepreneurs would get amount in time though the government had increased some budget this year. “With the rise in budget, even the projects are increased. Ministry’s weak performance on spending can recur,” he added.
Similarly, another former secretary Arjun Jung Thapa revealed that political pressure and influence was a hindrance on proper budget spending. From project planning to allocation of budget, there is a political pressure, which results in weak implementation, according to him.
“Random allocation of budget is a nagging problem. The projects which need adequate budget lack it, while others not able to spend are piled up with further amount. Budget is allocated in the projects which are not prepared with sufficient study. After some months, budget is in short supply, resulting into transfer,” he explained.
Similarly, Chairman of Nepal Engineers Association, Hari Bahadur Darlami, expressed worry why mega projects were allocated insufficient budget.
Chairman of Nepal Construction Entrepreneurs’ Federation, Rabi Singh, criticized the budget reasoning that Finance Minister ignored suggestions from private sector and businesspersons.
