Kathmandu: The National Assembly today commenced the deliberation on the Appropriation Bill- 2082 BS. The budget allocations to the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, and the National Planning Commission were discussed in the meeting.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Bhagawati Neupane underscored the need for a policy departure for the improvement of the budget system. He emphasized that selecting projects based on needs and relevancy and ensuring sufficient budget allocation with effective implementation will contribute to achieving proportionate development. Radheshyam Paswan highlighted the necessity of appropriating the budget based on sources’ management and needs.
As per the session’s agenda today, discussions will also be held on budget allocations to various ministries, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ministry of Home, and Ministry of Defence.
During the zero hour of the session, lawmakers voiced concerns over the government’s preparedness to deal with potential natural disasters during the monsoon season. They also urged the government to ensure sufficient supplies of chemical fertilizer for farmers. Uday Bahadur Bohora pointed out that farmers demand around 1.3 million metric tons of fertilizer, while the supply is limited to approximately 0.4 million metric tons.
Nara Bahadur Bista reported that continuous rains have adversely affected farmers in the Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces. Narayan Datta Mishra added that excessive rains have significantly impacted Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolis and Godavari Municipality, with the lack of a systematic sewage system exacerbating the situation. He also called for an investigation into the alleged unauthorized removal of the ‘cooling-off’ provision from the Civil Service Bill.
Other lawmakers raised additional concerns, including Madan Kumari Shah (Garima) demanding the prompt restoration of the Karnali Bridge along the Postal Highway in Bardiya. Mohammed Khalid urged government efforts to promote paddy plantation in Madhesh, while Rajendra Laxmi Gaire insisted on ensuring travel safety during the rainy season.
Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar demanded the withdrawal of the luxury tax on gold and silver, and Gomadevi Timilsina urged the Nepal Electricity Authority to manage electric wires tangled in various districts of the Terai/Madhesh region. Durga Kumari Gurung emphasized the need to create skill-enhancing and self-employment opportunities within the country to prevent people from Karnali from seeking jobs in India.