Kathmandu: In line with constitutional provisions, the federal government of Nepal has been presenting its budget on the 15th of the Nepali month Jestha every year. Similarly, provincial and local governments are required to present their budgets on Asar 1 and Asar 10, respectively.
According to National News Agency Nepal, most local governments have adhered to these requirements and presented their annual budgets for the upcoming fiscal year on Tuesday, with some presenting even before the scheduled date. However, the process has been halted in some local bodies due to internal disputes or technical reasons, preventing them from meeting the stipulated deadline.
Among the six metropolitan cities in Nepal, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has yet to present its budget. While Biratnagar, Birgunj, Lalitpur, Bharatpur, and Pokhara have all presented theirs, Kathmandu, the nation’s federal capital, failed to meet the deadline due to internal disputes. This delay has attracted public interest, given that Kathmandu’s budget is larger than those of some federal ministries.
Kathmandu’s municipal assembly has not convened for an extended period, with no official statement provided regarding the delays. It is speculated that misunderstandings between the chief administrative officer assigned by the federal government and Mayor Balendra Sah may be a contributing factor.
There has been an absence of discussions among the concerned officials of Kathmandu Metropolitan City regarding policies, programs, and budget. Similarly, some other local levels in the country have also faced challenges in presenting their policies and programs.