: All three mega cities of state-1, namely Biratnagar, Itahari and Dharan, have reduced their budget size for upcoming fiscal year. Announcing budget for the upcoming fiscal, Biratnagar Metropolitan City has reduced roughly Rs. 1 billion from its current fiscal budget of Rs. 4,135,092,750.
Deputy Mayor of the only metropolis of the state and the state capital, Indira Karki, announced the upcoming budget to the tune of Rs. 3,378,110,000. Karki announced the budget at Birendra Sabhagriha of Biratnagar informing internal income of Rs. 980 million.
Itahari Sub-metropolitan City has also reduced its upcoming fiscal budget. Announcing the upcoming budget at The Lions Community Hall of Itahari, Deputy Mayor Laxmi Gautam announced the budget of Rs. Rs. 1,780,000,000.
This budget is Rs. 75 million less than the ongoing budget of Rs. Rs. 1,855,000,000. Gautam said the internal income of the sub-metropolis is around. Rs. 150 million.
Likewise, Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City announced the budget of Rs. 1,723,543,500. Deputy Mayor Manju Bhandari made budget speech at the auditorium hall of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences of the city. The upcoming fiscal budget of this ancient city of the state has been Rs. 50 million less than its ongoing fiscal year budget of Rs. 1,779,100,000. Bhandari said the expected internal income of the current fiscal year is Rs 250 million.
Dharan has drastically reduced the ‘unnecessary’ expenses. It has ceased budget for office-bearers of the various committees of the Sub-Metropolis. Likewise, it has stopped funding for uniform allowances to its employees.
Speaking about the downsized budget for the upcoming fiscal year, people’s representatives have reasoned the economic impact of the global pandemic. ”We were of the view to increase our volume of the budget. Unfortunately, COVID-19 drastically reduced our internal income and economic activities”, opined Manju Bhandari, the Deputy Mayor of Dharan.
Source: National News Agency Nepal
