KATHMANDU, June 9: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Chakrapani Khanal has expressed dissatisfaction over the allocation of budget in agriculture and livestock development.

The government on May 29 unveiled a budget of Rs 1.53 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year 2019\20. Of the total budget, the government has allocated Rs 34.8005 billion rupees for the agriculture ministry.

According to Minister Khanal, at least five percent of the total budget is needed to commercialize agriculture sector in the country.

“Only 1.8 percent of the total budget has been allocated for agriculture. But we are committed to fully implement the budget,” said Minister Khanal, speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

The government, according to the budget, plans to make the country self-sufficient in dairy, poultry and fresh vegetables.

“The country is already self-sufficient in the production of eggs, poultry and pork. We have forwarded programs as per the government plans. The programs also include encouraging the involvement of youth in the agriculture sector,” said Khanal.

Similarly, the government has increased the grant in by 50 percent for the upcoming fiscal year. About 9 billion has been allocated as a grant for buying fertilizers.

“It is not enough. We can only provide 3.5 lakh metric tons of fertilizers as a grant to the farmers. But the demand is 6 lakh metric tons.”

According to Khanal, the government is planning to open a fertilizer factory aiming to start its operation within two years.

“For this, we have proposed 150 million for this project,” he said.

Moreover, the government, who has given agriculture a top priority, has planned to double fruit cultivation in the next five years. The government has also planned to set up a Food Quality Lab in every province. Likewise, about Rs 500 million has been appropriated for community farming.

Similarly, the government has allocated a budget of 23.6 billion for irrigation programs. 960 million has been allocated for irrigation programs in Terai, and 2.05 billion has been allocated for developing Sunkoshi Marine as a National Pride Project.

Also, Rs 5.6 billion has been allocated for the construction of the dam.

The government will also mark the next fiscal year as Tree Plantation Year. For this, security will be beefed in the forest areas. Newer practices will also be launched in livestock management.

Also, About Rs 1 billion has been earmarked for the ‘Rastrapati Chure Program’. Newer practices will be launched in livestock management.

KATHMANDU, May 30: Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada unveiled a budget of Rs 1,532 billion for the fiscal year 2019/20. The government has allocated Rs 957.1 billion (62%) for recurrent expenditure, Rs 408.59 billion (26.6%) for capital expenditure and Rs 167.85 billion (11%) for financing provision for the implementation of its policies and programs.

The government, which has set a target of 8.5 percent economic growth, will mobilize Rs 981.13 billion in revenue, 57.99 billion in foreign grants and raise Rs 298.83 billion in foreign loans and Rs 195 billion in domestic debt.

The federal government plans to spend Rs 55.3 billion to the provinces and Rs 89.95 billion to local units under the fiscal equalization grants in the upcoming fiscal year. The province government will receive Rs 44.55 billion and local units will receive Rs 123.87 billion in conditional grants. Likewise, Rs 10 billion each has been allocated to provinces and locals units as matching grants and as fiscal transfers under special grants.

The government has decided to provide Rs 60 million to each lawmaker in the lower house elected under the first-past-the-post system for the development of their respective constituencies. A total of Rs 9.9 billion has been allocated as constituency development fund which has seen a hike by 50 percent.

The government has raised the salary of all the government employees by up to 20 percent effective from mid-July. The non-gazetted government official’s salary has been raised by 20 percent while gazetted third class and above officials’ salary has been hiked by 18 percent. The increment is applicable to civil servants, security persons, teachers and state-owned corporation staffers.

The government has also increased the social security allowance by Rs 1000 for each beneficiary. With the rise, the senior citizens above 70 years will receive Rs 3000 per month as elderly allowance from mid-July. The new arrangement will directly benefit about 1.3 million senior citizens.

Similarly, the social security allowance being provided to terminally handicapped, disabled, single women and people from indigenous communities on the verge of disappearance has also been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. About 900,000 citizens will benefit from this scheme.

Moreover, the government has allocated Rs 1.5 billion for Children Protection Grant, aiming to provide assistance to around 300,000 underprivileged and destitute children.

The government has allocated Rs 83.49 billion to the energy sector. According to Minister Khatiwada, 21 projects would be developed with investment from citizens to produce 3,500 megawatts power. Similarly, the government has planned to develop one project with investment from employees.

The government has allocated Rs 141 billion budget for the post-earthquake reconstruction—Rs 58.73 billion has been allocated to complete reconstruction of private houses and 1 billion for the completion of Dhahara reconstruction within the coming fiscal year. Likewise, the budget has set a target to complete the reconstruction of heritages damaged by the earthquake. Similarly, an arrangement of Rs 60 million has been made to each constituency area for local infrastructure development program. The budget has also given continuity to the Tarai-Madhes prosperity program.

The government has allocated Rs 163 billion to build transport infrastructure. According to minister Khatiwada, Rs 19.18 billion has been earmarked to expand East-West Highway into four land road. The roads to connect all the provincial headquarters to East-West Highway will be built. The government also plans to expedite the expansion of Butwal-Narayanghat and Kamala-Kanchanpur sections on fast track mode.

Likewise, the government has allocated Rs 12.20 billion for the black-topping of 435 kilometer section of under-construction of Mid-hill Highway, Rs 12.63 billion for the black-topping of Hulaki-Highway, Rs 5.06 billion for the Mechi Corridor, Koshi Corridor, Kaligandaki Corridor and Karnali Corridor, Rs 4.82 billion for Madan Bhandari Highway (which connects Dharan, Chatara, Gaighat, Katari, Sindhuli and Hetuada), Rs 1.81 billion for Ring Road expansion and Rs 610 million for the completion of Kanti Highway (Satdobato of Lalitpur to Buddha Chowk of Hetuada).

The government plan to build tunnel in Tikune-Koteshwor-Jadibudi, underpass in New Baneshwor and flyover in Tripureshwor to Maitighar.

The government has allocated Rs 7.7 billion for rail, metro rail and mono rail.

Also, the government plans to build a domestic airport in Kavre district, connect administrative centers of all local levels with black-topped roads within five years.

The government has allocated Rs 3.34 billion to complete the remaining works of Gautam Buddha International Stadium, Rs 8 billion for the under-construction Pokhara Regional International Airport.

The government has also allocated budget for the construction of waterways in Narayani and Koshi rivers.

The government has allocated 7.39 billion for the completion of Melamchi Drinking Water Project. The project which will divert 170 million liters of water to Kathmandu Valley per day is in the final stages.

The government has allocated Rs 3.99 billion for the sports sector including Rs 100 million to complete the under-construction Mulpani Cricket Stadium.

The government has increased 15% on public welfare advertisement fund, 100% coverage of health insurance to those joining the government’s health insurance scheme and free sanitary pad to girls studying in public schools.

Full text of the Budget for the fiscal year 2019/20.

KATHMANDU, May 29: The government has allocated Rs. 3.99 billion for the sports sector in the new fiscal year 2019/20.

Tabling the budget before the joint session of the federal parliament Wednesday, Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada said the amount has been appropriated with high priority to the sports sector.

The government has allocated Rs. 100 million for the under-construction cricket stadium in Mulpani, Kathmandu, which will be completed in the next two years.

Likewise, plans are afoot to construct an international-level sports complex in Kathmandu valley, well-equipped stadium in all the States and sports village in all the local levels.

A cricket academy will be established for the development of the sport of cricket while the required budget has been allocated for the 13th South Asian Games and the 9th national games to be held in Gandaki State in 2077.

The SAG is taking place from coming December 1 to 10 in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Likewise, programs shall be organized for training and capacity building of the athletes in federal, state and local levels. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The government has allocated Rs 141 billion budget for the post-earthquake reconstruction in its budget for the coming fiscal year 2019/20.

The budget presented by Minister for Finance, Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, at the joint session of the Federal Parliament reads that Rs 58.73 billion has been allocated to complete reconstruction of private houses within the next fiscal year.

Similarly, the arrangement of Rs 1 billion has been made to complete the reconstruction of Dharahara within the coming fiscal year.

The budget has set a target to complete the reconstruction of heritages damaged by the earthquake.

The budget has adopted a policy to make a partnership with local levels in reconstruction.

Likewise, the arrangement of Rs 60 million has been made to each constituency area for local infrastructure development program.

The budget has also given continuity to the Tarai-Madhes prosperity program. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The government has tabled a budget of Rs. 1.532 trillion for the fiscal year 2019/20.

Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada tabled the budget estimates for the new fiscal year at the joint session of the federal parliament including Rs. 957.10 billion worth of current expenditure and Rs. 167.85 billion worth of capital expenditure. Likewise, Rs. 167.85 billion has been appropriated for financing.

The estimated sources of income for the fiscal year includes Rs. 981.13 billion from revenue sources, Rs. 57.88 billion foreign assistance with deficit worth Rs. 493.83 billion to be met through foreign credit and other sources.

It may be noted that the government had tabled a budget of Rs. 1.315 trillion in the current fiscal year 2018/19.

The budget is tabled every year on Jestha 15 of the Lunar Calendar as provided in the Constitution of Nepal. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The Government has increased the salary of the civil servants by 20 percent to be effective from the new fiscal year.

Presenting the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2019/20, Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada announced the increment in the basic salary of the non-gazetted and 18 pe cent of the gazetted civil servants.

The increment covers government employees, security persons, teachers and state-owned corporation staffers.

The government has increased the salary of civil servants after a span of three years.

Earlier, the salary of the civil servants was increased in 2073 BS during the premiership of current Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

The increment, Finance Minister Khatiwada said, is expected to boost the morale of the civil servants and strengthen their professional integrity and thereby lead to effective public service delivery. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 29: The government has allocated Rs. 3.34 billion for the Gautam Buddha International Airport with a plan to bring it into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. About 74 percent of the construction works of the airport has already been completed.

The construction of the airport has been given top priority, said Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, presenting the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2019/2020 at the joint session of the federal parliament Wednesday.

Likewise, the under-construction Pokhara regional airport will be getting a budget of Rs. 8 billion.

The target is to complete the airport by 2020. Likewise, the Tribhuvan International Airport will be developed as a boutique airport, with a plan to operate it round-the-clock. Furthermore, other domestic airports will be upgraded to run night flights.

The government also has plans to construct an alternative domestic airport new Kathmandu valley.

KATHMANDU, May 28: Prime Times television’s most popular television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan has never been boring—always full of interesting conversation and never shy of intense debates and dramas.

On Monday, Dr Ram Saran Mahat, leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress, frequently told show host Rishi Dhamala ‘not to interrupt’ and ‘know before you ask questions’ not even hesitating to accuse the Reporters’ Club Nepal’s President Dhamala of advocating for Nepal Communist Party Chair K P Sharma Oli-led government.

In the talk show organized to discuss the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2019/20, six-time former Finance Minister Dr. Mahat claimed that it was Nepali Congress’ economic policy that laid the entire foundation of the economic development of Nepal.

Mahat accused the government of not worrying about the budget.

“They talk nonsense, artificially allocate a larger budget and fail to implement it. They talk big but lack the ability to work.”

“The previous year’s budget was ambitious but its implementation and output were less than expected.”

When Dhamala said all the finance ministers have increased the size of the budget each fiscal year, Mahat said, “No…no..no. Rishi ji, you must know and learn before you talk. I am the only one who allocated the budget in limits when everyone was lobbying for an increase in size.”

The budget should be increased paying attention to previous year’s expense. An increment of 10-15 percent is normal.

According to him, the Nepali Congress-led government was able to cut down the national loan from 65 percent to 25 percent.

“Nepali Congress brought several economic reforms.”

When Dhamala said Dr. Mahat started the privatization of business and industry, Dr. Mahat said, “First know the facts…then speak. I supported the transfer of business from the public to private ownership because it was the need of the hours then. We took the correct decision.”

“But, isn’t the privatization has made the country’s economic condition worse? Which industry that was privatized has thrived?” asked Dhamala.

Mahat said, “Nonsense. Don’t talk nonsense. You should have a better understanding. Government-owned industries might have closed but…

Dhamala interrupted, “What about Janakpur Cigarette factory?”

“First listen carefully. Let me speak. You ask a question and interrupt in the middle…,” said Mahat.

“The government had to provide monetary support to the Janakpur industry. But now, the government receives billions of revenues from the privately owned tobacco industries.”

“Be it shoe factory, cigarette or sugar factory, the privatization has increased the size of government coffers. We used the same money to invest in the development of the country.”

Communist countries like China and Russia have privatized the business because government-run industries bear the loss. The government should focus on education, health, administration not business.

“Isn’t Nepal Telecom is profit?, asked Dhamala.

“Because its monopoly,” replied Mahat. “You should understand better first. Non-competitive industries such as telecom can be run by the government. But, other business which runs in the competition should be in the market.”

When Dhamala said the budget Mahat brought has doomed Nepali Congress, Mahat said, “you should be knowledgeable.”

“Our economic policy is not the reason we lost the elections. Even when the country was in crisis due to Maoist insurgency, our policy kept the country’s economy stable. Nepal, which collected 12 billion in revenue now collects 800-900 billion. It is because of our economic policy.

“So, you should not run after the fabricated rumors.”

“But you know, the communist government has always brought the popular budgets,” said Dhamala.

“Popular? When you distribute money, it becomes popular. Don’t you mean this?, said irritated Mahat.

“You have not understood here… so before you ask you should understand.”

“A finance minister’s responsibility is not becoming popular. His task is to think about a long-term economic goal. Distributing money and becoming popular will not take the country to prosperity.

“They have distributed money to their cadres. They have become successful,” said Dhamala.“You could not distribute money to cadres, neither you gave it to the poor.”

“You questions are funny and laughable,” said Mahat.

“You are ignorant. You have no knowledge.”

Dhamala then said he was ready to debate with Mahat for hours on the economic policy.

“You knowledge does not match that standard,” responded Mahat.

“Has the budget you brought developed the country?” asked Dhamala.

“All the development works and reforms are credited to our budget,” replied Mahat.

“Should the government distribute the money from state coffers to its cadres? Did they give you?”

Dhamala said, “Excuse me Dr. Mahat. I will quit journalism if you find proof.”

To watch more, see the video:

‘WE HAVEN’T ASKED FOR 100 MILLION. PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS FOR DEVELOPMENT’

KATHMANDU, May 28: Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) should come for negotiation with political agenda, Devendra Paudel, standing committee member of Nepal Communist Party and a Member of Parliament.

“The government cannot support and tolerate any sort of terrorist activities in the country. If Netra Bikram Chand group continues its terrorist activities, the government will take action against them,” said Paudel talking to Rishi Dhamala in a television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan.

“The government still appeals Chand to come for dialogue. The CPN must place its political agenda and sit for talks with the government following a constitutional process,” he added.

Paudel said that few of Chand’s demands are not negotiable.

“Chand’s demand for dissolution of the government is not a subject of discussion. This is a people-elected government. If he thinks there is an alternative to the incumbent government, negotiation is not possible,” he said.

A day after a series of blasts that took place in different parts of the Kathmandu Valley on Sunday by Chand group—that claimed four lives and left others injured, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli termed the outlawed outfit an anti-development element saying Chand revolution has “no meaning and was carried with an intention to accumulate wealth by terrorizing the people”. He also asked Chand to clarify “what he wanted” and vowed to thwart any attempts threatening the peace of the state and people.

Paudel said that Chand must want to come for negotiation.

“When CK Raut was in jail, he said he opted for talks with the government saying he would abide by the constitution and take his political agendas to the people. The government then honored his request and welcomed him to the mainstream national politics in the condition he would quit his separatist movement,” he said.

“If Chand becomes ready to carry out his activities peacefully and as per the spirit of the constitution, the government is ready to welcome him to the national politics,” he added.

“Panting bombs and terrorizing people to press the government to punish the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats is not a solution and cannot be endured.”

“This will do nothing but disturb the peace. They can protest the corruption in a peaceful way.”

“Chand group’s activities are not in the interest of the people.”

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENT

Paudel also defended the Local Development Partnership Program and Constituency Development Fund saying the lawmakers (directly elected) have demanded 100 million rupees not for money’s sake but for the development.

Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada is preparing to unveil the budget for the fiscal year 2019/2020 with a notable increase in the Partnership Fund, which is being allocated to the 165 lawmakers of lower house elected from the first-past-the-post system. If the fund is allocated as demanded by the lawmakers, the government will have to allocate Rs 21 billion.

“We haven’t demanded the amount. We have asked for the development projects.”

“We have put forth two conditions. We have asked to either give us the development projects worth the amount in order to fulfill the election promises we made to the people or allocate the infrastructure development fund in some other way,” he added.

But the lawmakers’ demand of the fund has been facing criticism from various quarters, including the opposition Nepali Congress, some ruling party leaders themselves who have argued that it will give rise to misuse of state funds in the name of lawmakers.

Even Finance Minister Khatiwada, last year, had attempted to remove the provision of both Fund programs—which started a few years ago– saying it led to the fund misuse. However, his effort had failed following the immense pressure from the lawmakers of both ruling and opposition parties.

“The government monitors the use of the fund allocated to the constituencies. If any lawmaker is found to have abused the fund or committed irregularities, he must be punished.”

Those against the development fund have also argued that lawmakers’ job is not to involve themselves directly in the mobilization of development funds.

“We cannot step back from the development promises we made to the people. We are elected representatives. Our task is not just to formulate laws but to involve in development programs as well’.

The lawmakers elected under the proportional representation system have also expressed discontent over the fund saying they are being discriminated and have demanded the similar funds.