Karnali able to utilise only 15 per cent budget in six months

By Our Correspondent,Surkhet, Feb. 15: The Karnali Province could mobilise only 15 per cent of the total budget estimated for the current Fiscal Year 2024/25 in the first six months of this year. 

Out of the total budget of Rs. 31.41 billion, only Rs. 4.75 billion (15.14 per cent) had been utilised in the first half of the FY by mid-January. 

This scenario was revealed at the mid-term review of the budget for the current year. The review took place in the presence of Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel, along with various ministers and ministry secretaries.

The Office of the Attorney General recorded the highest expenditure, utilising 40 per cent of its total allocated budget. Meanwhile, the provincial government generated Rs. 1.99 billion in internal revenue and reported a balance of Rs. 11.48 billion in its consolidated fund.

Chief Minister Kandel acknowledged the satisfactory progress of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development and instructed that the momentum be maintained. He also directed payments to be made to contractors based on work evaluations. 

Likewise, CM Kandel emphasised the need to expand tourism and industrial programmes to boost revenue and suggested exploring agroforestry opportunities. 

Furthermore, he recommended transferring infrastructure developed for tourism to local governments, with a provision to allocate a portion of the revenue generated from these sites to the province.

Talking about the sports, he expressed the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring the timely organisation of the 10th National Sports Competition. 

He urged relevant stakeholders to propose necessary programmes and budget allocations to enhance the skills, training, and management of Karnali’s athletes.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that legislative progress across ministries had been unsatisfactory. 

He called for a more effective approach to legislative work, urging ministries to submit business proposals to the provincial assembly and expedite necessary legal frameworks. With only five months remaining in the fiscal year, he directed an acceleration of work and emphasised the need for an immediate action plan to address budget implementation challenges and lessons learned so far.