MPs from the ruling party have expressed dissatisfaction, saying that priority has been given to a few limited areas and plans in budget allocation and that the distribution of infrastructure development programs is not fair.
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Although the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have formed a six-member task force to resolve the heated dispute over the budget of the Koshi Province government for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84, two factions have been seen within the task force on how to correct the budget.
Due to these differences, no concrete conclusion could be reached from the discussions held throughout the day on Tuesday. The parliament meeting was also adjourned until Thursday. Some members of the task force have argued that the budget imbalance should be corrected by amending the schedule of the appropriation bill as per democratic practice, while the other side has argued that the option of balancing the budget during the transfer of funds, financial transfer or implementation would be more appropriate.
The task force, which includes Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Party Himal Karki, Chief Whip Gopal Tamang and Finance Committee Chairman Binod Bantawa from the Congress and former Economic Affairs Minister Ram Bahadur Magar, Chief Whip Ramesh Basnet and Infrastructure Development Committee Chairman Hom Bahadur Thapa from the UML, has been given the responsibility of preparing a common proposal by incorporating the demands of the dissatisfied lawmakers.
Himal Karki, Binod Bantawa and Hom Bahadur Thapa within the task force have expressed the view that budget revision is possible. They are in favor of amending the appropriation bill as per parliamentary procedure to remove the imbalance. However, Ram Bahadur Magar, Gopal Tamang and Ramesh Basnet have stated that there is no practice of budget revision in the province and have insisted that the problem should be solved through transfer of funds or financial transfer.
MPs from the ruling party have expressed dissatisfaction, saying that priority has been given to some limited areas and plans in the budget allocation and that the distribution of infrastructure development programs is not fair. This time, they have been demanding that the schedule of the appropriation bill be amended, breaking the traditional practice.
The task force also held discussions with Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki on Tuesday. But no agreement could be reached from that either. However, both the Congress and the UML have expressed confidence that the dispute will be resolved before Asad 18.
The provincial assembly meeting has been postponed repeatedly due to failure to reach an agreement. The meeting called on Asad 11 was postponed to Asad 16, but after no agreement was reached on that day, the meeting has been scheduled for Asad 18. Congress Chief Whip Tamang said that the parliament should not be adjourned further. According to him, if the Asad 18 meeting cannot be held, the constitutional deadline for passing the budget may be affected.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Bidur Kumar Lingthep had presented a budget of Rs 40.44 billion 98 million in the provincial assembly on Asad 1. The budget is being opposed mainly by the chairmen of parliamentary committees, alleging that it is ministerial-oriented and unbalanced. Some lawmakers are also conducting a signature campaign warning against passing the budget in its current form.
