Dharan: The Dharan Sub-metropolis in Sunsari has announced its budget, policies, and programs for the fiscal year 2082-83 BS (2025-26). Deputy Mayor Aindra Bikram Begha presented the budget of Rs 2,207,459,000 during the 17th Municipal Assembly.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the budget outlines an expected internal revenue generation of Rs 805.37 million, with additional grants of Rs 892.9 million from the federal government. The province government is expected to provide Rs 77.34 million, while revenue sharing is projected to bring in Rs 341.85 million. Furthermore, Rs 20 million is anticipated from the Road Board, and Rs 70 million is to come from last year’s surplus.
The budget allocation includes Rs 669.4 million for urban planning and physical infrastructure development. An amount of Rs 468.5 million is set for education, youth, and sports, while Rs 69.99 million is allocated for health, and Rs 48.64 million for social development. Economic development is to receive Rs 12.9 million, and Rs 27.45 million is designated for forestry, environment, energy, and disaster management. Legal and judicial affairs will have Rs 2 million, and Rs 1.5 million is allocated for public land protection. Revenue mobilization will receive Rs 4.3 million, and Rs 50.5 million is set aside for the Municipal Vision Program. Additionally, Rs 210 million is distributed across the 20 wards of Dharan.
Deputy Mayor Begha emphasized that the budget prioritizes education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, social development, and disaster management. The budget process faced delays due to differences between the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, missing the regular timeline mandated by the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act-2017, which requires local governments to present their budgets by Asar 10 in the Lunar Calendar.