KATHMANDU, Dec 24: The government has spent Rs 340 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year, which is around 27 per cent of the total budget.

According to the Finance Ministry, expenditure trend till the mid-December of the current fiscal year is progressive and out of Rs 1278 billion allocated budget, 26.6 per cent was spent.

Spokesperson at the Ministry, Arjun Prasad Pokharel, said 36.44 per cent or Rs 292 billion is towards current expenditure while Rs 31.99 billion or 9.55 per cent is towards capital expenditure. Similarly, Rs 15.41 billion or 10.99 per cent has been spent in fiscal management.

The government through the concerned ministries has directed the projects and offices to increase capital expenditure. It had set a target to collect Rs 251 billion revenue till mid-December of the current fiscal year and was able to collect 95.56 per cent of the target which is a rise by 114.97 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The budget of the upcoming fiscal year the government unveiled at the Legislature-Parliament on Monday has given top priority to the rebuild of earthquake-damaged structures.
The budget vows to complete the rebuild drive within the deadline (five years) by enhancing capacity of all reconstruction-related bodies.

The reconstruction and new construction works in the aftermath of the earthquake are taking a pace and house rebuilding grants for survivors has been increased by Rs 100 thousands and reached Rs 300 thousands, the budget states. Likewise, Rs 146 billion has been allocated to the National Reconstruction Authority to carry out rebuild works besides the programs set under the respective ministries.

The budge pledges to intensify the distribution of second and third installments of house rebuilding grants, address grievances of survivors, accelerate reconstruction of damaged heritages of archaeological importance, restore cultural and religious sites to their original structures and prioritize the construction of trekking routes taken important in terms of eco-tourism aspect.

Likewise, upgrade of local infrastructure and rural roads, mobilization of technical human resources to carry out post-quake reconstruction and new construction works at the local – level, hiring of skilled human resource in the reconstruction and the development of an integrated settlement in the most affected districts to shift vulnerable communities are other priorities of the new budget. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The new budget in line with the new Constitution has allocated budget to the local levels separately for the implementation of the federalism.

Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2017/18, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that rural municipalities are given minimum Rs 100 million to maximum Rs 390 million while the municipalities would get minimum Rs 150 million to maximum Rs 430 million.

Likewise, sub-metropolitan city would get minimum Rs 400 million to maximum Rs 630 million and metropolitan city are given from Rs 560 million to Rs 1.24 billion directly. It is to be given as grant.

Likewise, provision has been ensured to provide Rs 67.41 billion as conditional grant. Under the scheme, a rural municipality would get minimum Rs 12 million to maximum Rs 172.2 million while the municipality would get minimum Rs 39.5 million to Rs 312.7 million.

Likewise, a sub-metropolitan city would get from Rs 148 million to Rs 310 million. In the case of metropolitan city, the amount would range from Rs 281.2 million to Rs 783.9 million.

As per the budget provision, the projects and programs fallen under the jurisdiction of the local levels but currently being operated from the line ministries are being handed over along with budget by mid-August. However, such programs should have the limit of Rs 5 million in rural municipality, Rs 10 million in municipality and Rs 20 million in sub-metropolitan city and metropolitan city. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The government has set the target of 7.2 per cent of economic growth rate in the upcoming fiscal year.

Releasing the annual budget for the fiscal year 2017/018, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the country shall witness rapid economic development following massive progress in economic mobilization.

Mahara also said that the inflation rate would be around seven percent in the upcoming year with improved supply system.

The budget has targeted remarkable progress in social security and human development index while 100,000 more self-employments would be generated. Similarly, 400,000 new employments would be generated, the Finance Minister said. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara announced to upgrade the Bir Hospital to the high-tech international-level hospital.

Similarly, while presenting the budget, he said the government would complete the reconstruction of the earthquake hit health institutions within two years.

The government has estimated a cost of total Rs 17 billion to build badly-hit 2,000 health institutions and procure equipment.

Unveiling the budget for the fiscal year 2017/018 in the Legislature-Parliament on Monday, Minister Mahara pledged to handover the responsibility to the local levels to operate the health institutions.

The budget has announced to manage the salaries of the health institutions from the local levels and while the maternal service, immunization, golden 1000 days, family health, tuberculosis, malaria control and Ayurved health services would also be handed over to the local level.

The health programmes handed over to the local level would be monitored and supervised from the District Public Health Offices, while the Health Insurance Programme expanded in all districts, according to the Finance Minister.
Likewise, the budget has announced to establish the Ayurvedic University and the Drug Management Act would be revised to compulsorily operate the pharmacy services in all hospitals. RSS