Government rolls out fiscal budget amid political party concerns

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Shanker Prasad Koirala has presented a Rs 506 billion budget for the fiscal year 2013/14 on Sunday. The budget was presented after a delay of 3 hours at the national Planning Commission’s office in Singhadurbar.
The budget has given continued priority to Constituent Assembly (CA) elections slated for November 19 later this year.

The budget has allocated Rs. 16 billion for the CA polls, and Rs 30 billion for the energy related projects in the full budget. Finance Minister said that the budget has given continuity to development projects introduced by the earlier government.
Similarly the budget has recognized Pashupati Area Development Trust, Lumbini Development Trust, President’s Chure Bhawar Conservation Project, and Bheri-Babai Mulitipurpose Diversion Project as projects of national pride.
Along with the budget has been diversified under various headings. Of them hydro-electricity and energy; agriculture; infrastructure development; education health and drinking water, tourism promotion; promotion of investment in private sector; export and import; improvement in public service and good governance has been set priorities of the government.
Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi, his Cabinet colleagues, heads of the constitutional bodies, chiefs of the security agencies, leaders of the major four political forces, NPC vice chairman, government secretaries and other officials, and the representatives of the business community are also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had endorsed three budget-related ordinances this afternoon.

The budget was brought in after President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav certified the ordinances as per the Article 88 (1) of Interim Constitution.