Koshi Province Assembly endorses Appropriation Bill

ITAHARI: The Koshi Province Assembly has unanimously endorsed the Appropriation Bill for 2023, intended to replace the budget established by the previous government through an ordinance.

Chief Minister Kedar Karki, who also oversees the economic affairs portfolio, presented the Bill proposing an expenditure of Rs 500 million more than what was initially proposed in the budget introduced through the ordinance. The ordinance had suggested a spending amount of Rs 36.64 billion for the fiscal year 2023/24.

Previously, six assembly members from CPN-UML and two from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had proposed a reduction in the budget size. The members who registered the proposal were Rebati Raman Bhandari, Bidur Kumar Lingthep, Kishor Chandra Dulal, Tilchan Pathak, Kamala Darnal, Niran Rai of UML, and Bhakti Prasad Sitaula and Gopal Bishwkarma of RPP. However, they later withdrew their proposal. During the theoretical discussion on the Bill, even members from the ruling parties expressed dissatisfaction with the budgetary programs.

The appropriation bill (budget) under discussion in the provincial assembly to replace the ordinance budget was passed unanimously during the Koshi state assembly meeting. Chief Minister Kedar Karki introduced the budget replacement bill, adding Rs 50 crore on 9th November. The presented budget statement included a proposal for a budget of Rs 36 billion 74 crore 35 lakh 10 thousand for the current financial year.

Earlier, six MPs of UML and two MPs of RP had proposed expense cuts while disagreeing with the said bill. The parliamentarians who proposed such cuts include UML chief whip Revathiraman Bhandari, Vidurkumar Lingthep, Kishore Chandra Dulal, Tilchan Pathak, Kamala Darnal, Niran Rai, Bhaktiprasad Sitaula, and Gopal Vishwakarma of RPP. As they withdrew their proposal, the appropriation bill was submitted for a decision and received unanimous support from all parties.

During the theoretical discussion of the Appropriation Bill, the ruling party, UML, and RPP also expressed strong dissatisfaction.