DHANGADHI: The Sudurpashchim Province Assembly commenced the budget discussion on Tuesday, 26 days after the presentation of the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.
Presenting a proposal to initiate a discussion on the budget in the Sudurpashchim Province Assembly, Minister for Economic Affairs Naresh Kumar Shahi emphasized that the budget would lay the foundation for economic development in the province.
Commenting on the budget, Rajendra Singh Rawal, the parliamentary party leader of the CPN-UML, stated that the budget primarily serves the interests of specific political leaders. He also criticized the government for allocating funds to the parliamentary development program. “This budget will not bring any benefits to the province or the country,” he asserted.
Rawal further highlighted the budget’s failure to address the suffering of people affected by earthquakes, floods, and landslides. “This budget will hinder the progress and development of the province,” he added.
Similarly, Kailash Chaudhary from the Nagarik Unmukti Party said that his party cannot support the budget unless changes are made. “The budget falls below our expectations; it is discriminatory,” he added.
Likewise, Khemadevi Bista of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) stated that the government disregarded suggestions provided by assembly members during the budget formulation. “We had submitted 44 projects to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, but none of them were included in the budget,” she complained.
Independent member Dr. Tara Joshi criticized the budget for prioritizing the establishment of a zoo over other pressing issues. “Despite many people in hilly districts of the province suffering from an acute shortage of drinking water, the budget fails to include any program to address this issue,” he added.
Responding to the questions raised by the assembly members, Minister Shahi explained that due to limited resources, it was not possible to incorporate all proposed programs from local units into the budget. He said criticism of the budget by the opposition is a natural occurrence.
