SURKHET: Karnali Province Government has spent only 9.8% of its annual budget in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
Of the Rs 32.61 billion allocated for the fiscal year 2022/23, only Rs 3.19 billion has been spent till mid-January.
According to Province Financial Comptroller Office, Province Public Service Commission has spent the highest budget so far. The commission has spent 27.62% of the allocated Rs 114.26 million so far. Similarly, the Office of the Chief Attorney has spent 27.28% of the allocated Rs 18.63 million. Likewise, Province Planning Commission achieved only 9.24% spending progress in the first half of the current fiscal year.
Of the recurrent expenditure of Rs 13.17 billion allocated for the current fiscal year, the province government has spent Rs 14.30%, or Rs 1.88 billion, over the first six months of the current fiscal year. However, there has been only 6.75% progress toward capital expenditure. The province has managed to spend Rs 1.31 billion of the Rs 19.43 billion allocated for development projects over the first six months of the current fiscal year.
Prem Prasad Acharya, secretary at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, told Himal Press that spending remained low in the first half of the current fiscal year government offices focused on preparatory works. “Most of the projects are now entering the implementation phase. Spending will gain momentum in the second half,” he added.
Acharya also blamed low spending to the November 20 election.
