Situation of asking for budget but not being able to spend it should end: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the situation of asking for budgets every financial year but not being able to spend the capital budget should be ended.

Addressing the 52nd meeting of the National Development Problem Resolution Committee held at Singha Durbar on Thursday, Prime Minister Dahal questioned why the budget allocated under the capital heading is not spent properly in time.

"In the first six months of the current fiscal year, the government's overall low capital expenditure is a matter of concern for us. This problem must be solved during the rest of this year," Prime Minister Dahal said.

He instructed all ministers and chief ministers to lead the work of development and construction so that the available budget is fully spent in the context of the process of implementing various measures to increase capital expenditure. PM Dahal mentioned that some ministries and some projects of national pride have advanced relatively well.

Meanwhile, the head of the executive thanked the Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multi-Purpose Project, Kaligandaki Corridor (Gaindakot-Ramdi Section) and Lumbini Area Development Trust for achieving more than 80 percent physical progress.

He also directed those projects as well as all other projects to provide 100 percent results in the remaining period. Mentioning the creation of multifaceted effects and opportunities in the economy through the expenditure of the government, Prime Minister Dahal said that it is necessary to spend the specified expenditures on time to mobilize the resources of the private sector, the cooperative sector, and community and development partners.

The Prime Minister said, "All the parts of the government need to move forward with a result-oriented thinking rather than a process-oriented one."

Govt has challenge of raising hopes among people

PM Dahal also on the occasion shared that the government's main challenge is to remove the sense of despondency among the people and raise hopes by protecting the achievements of far-reaching importance achieved from all political struggles and movements.

He directed the government ministries and organs to pay attention to make the government's delivery effective so as to raise hopes among the people.

"A change has to be brought especially in the hopelessness and negative thinking among the youths. The government's main challenge is to tear apart this despondency and raise hopes by protecting the achievements of far-reaching importance achieved from all political struggles and movements," he reiterated.

Stressing on the need of making the monitoring and evaluation more objective, effective and result-oriented, PM Dahal called for completing the national pride and transformative projects and the big projects of first priority within the determined time and cost.

He directed the officials concerned to immediately implement the feedback received through the joint monitoring of projects carried out under the National Planning Commission's coordination.

The PM also informed the meeting that timely amendments have been made to the Standards Related to Project Multi-year Contract Agreement, 2080 for ensuring the source and managing the budget of the projects. Similarly, the Basis of and Standards for Project Classification, 2080 has been implemented and it will make important contribution to project management, he added.

PM underscored on preparing and implementing the budget so as to remove the duplication and the provincial imbalance seen in the infrastructure development. Stating that the NPC has taken the works related to the 16th plan formulation in the final stages of completion, he emphasized on the need of pursuing the goal of 'good governance, social justice and prosperity' by addressing the basic issues and challenges encountered in the development endeavours.

The head of government asserted that the Periodic Plan should incorporate the policy priorities and common resolve of the government announced last week in the changed context.

Present in the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav, the government ministers, the province chief ministers, NPC Vice Chairman Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, Government Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal and secretaries of various ministries, among other government officials.