Of the 38.91 billion budget, only 2.89 billion has been spent in the first three months.
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The Lumbini provincial government's budget expenditure on capital expenditure appears to be weak. Only 8 percent has been spent in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Of that, capital expenditure is only 7.23 percent. Current expenditure has been 9.96 percent. The provincial treasury and accounts control office has stated that the average expenditure is 8 percent.
Of the budget allocated for the fiscal year 2082/083, the provincial government has spent only 8.15 percent of the total budget in the first three months (mid-August). Last year, the provincial government had spent almost 10 percent at the same time. The Lumbini provincial government has allocated a budget of Rs 38.91 billion for the current fiscal year.
According to the Provincial Accounts Control Office, the budget expenditure has also been affected by the vandalism of offices after the Gen-G protests, the formation of a new government at the center, and political uncertainty. After the federal government gave instructions to cut spending, the uncertainty about how to proceed with the budget allocated by the provincial government for the current fiscal year has also led to the suspension of the tender process that was in preparation, and the suspension of payments for some, said Deepak Gyawali, head of the Provincial Accounts Control Office.
‘After the Genji demonstration, there was complete confusion for some time, then the federal government issued a circular to cut expenses,’ he said, ‘That also stopped some files that were ready for tender and payment. The impact of that has also reduced the expenses.’ He said that after the work starts in coordination between the federal government and the provincial government, the expenses will increase and the pace of work will also increase.
The Lumbini provincial government has brought a budget of 38.91 billion rupees for the current fiscal year. Of this, only 2.89 billion rupees have been spent on current and capital expenditure till mid-Asoj, according to the provincial treasury and accounts office. According to the office, the Ministry of Health is the one who spent the most and the Ministry of Social Development is the one who spent the least. The Ministry of Health has spent 20.96 percent of its total budget, i.e. 1.38 billion rupees. The Ministry of Social Development has spent only 3.20 percent of the total budget.
Similarly, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, which has a budget of 9.92 billion rupees, has spent only 6.96 percent, or 695 million rupees, in the first quarter. Similarly, the expenses of the Chief Minister and the Office of the Council of Ministers have also been spent at a total of 5.78 percent.
Government spokesperson and Minister for Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives Dinesh Panthi said that due to political uncertainty for some time, the pace of government work has also slowed down and now the work has started to pick up pace after Tihar and Chhath.
‘After the Gen-G movement, there was a situation of uncertainty for some time,’ he said, ‘There was no decision on how the government would move forward, that is why the expenses have been reduced, now the pace will increase.’ He said that since the government has decided to cut expenses and has also directed the concerned ministries and offices, the work will now start accordingly.
