Dhangadhi, June 18
The Province No 7 State Assembly today started deliberations on the statement of estimated income and expenditure (Budget) for fiscal year 2018/19. The provincial government last week presented the budget in the State Assembly.
Taking part in the discussions, Krishna Bahadur Chaudhary of the Rastriya Janata Party complained that the budget had not incorporated the suggestions given by the State Assembly members from the Tharu community. He blamed that the budget was more party-oriented and power-oriented.
Nepali Congress Province 7 State Assembly parliamentary party leader, Dr Rana Bahadur Rawal said although budget and the policies and programmes are brought with the aim of achieving specific goals, the budget was direction-less and aimless.
He said although attempts have been made to make the budget attractive by incorporating various topics, it lacked concrete plans for achieving prosperity and development for the province. He slammed the budget for unnecessarily allocating more money towards administrative expenditure and contingency headings.
Chief whip of the ruling side, Tara Lama Tamang said the budget has been brought to meet the targeted objectives and suggested moving ahead by correcting the lacunas seen in the budget in terms of its implementation.
Province government minister for economic affairs and planning, Jhapat Bahadur Bohara had presented a proposal at the start of the State Assembly meeting seeking discussions of the budget for fiscal year 2018/19.
The Province 7 State Assembly will next meet at 8 am on June 21.