BIRGUNJ, Dec 29: The first town assembly of the Pokhariya Municipality has passed the estimated income and expenditure (budget) of Rs 396 million 239 thousand for the fiscal year 2017/18.

Deputy mayor Salma Khatun presented the budget statement in the town assembly on Thursday.

As per the budgetary break-down, Rs 34 million 465 thousand has been allocated towards recurrent expenditure, Rs 182 million 154 thousand towards capital expenditure and Rs 127 million 602 thousand towards conditional grant.

Similarly, Rs 40 million 550 thousand has been earmarked under the education, health, ayurveda, animal husbandry, Pokhariya hospital, nutrition program, BP with the poor program and social security allowance headings; Rs 1 million 461 thousand has been allotted to local governance and community development programme; Rs 5 million has been earmarked for building construction and Rs 5 million has been allocated for the matching fund.

The budget has focused on human resources and infrastructure development of the municipality. RSS

PARSA, Sept 15: Mayoral candidates of Pokhariya Municipality have expressed their commitments that they would make the municipality prosperous if people elect them to the post.

Nepali Congress candidate Rameshwor Rauniyar vowed to make the city prosperous if he was elected as mayor. “I have a plan to develop Pokhariya as a smart city. He also highlighted the need for development of infrastructures and industries if the city was to be developed.

He also claimed that the people in the city were excited about his candidacy and added, “The party has taken me as a trusted candidate. I will not let the party down.. I will not let my people down.”

CPN-UML candidate Brijesh Chauhan said that the party had done right by voting against the constitution amendment proposal. “We should not dwell on the amendment issue any more. The nation wants development and prosperity, which is the wish of UML as well.”

Stating that no development works were done in the municipality before, he added, “UML is the only hope of the city.”

Likewise, Federal Socialist Forum Nepal candidate Pradumna Chauhan argued that the Madhesi people want their rights guaranteed in the constitution. He also said that he registered his candidacy with an aim to develop the city.

Similarly, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal candidate Nijamudhhin Samani pledged to work for the city’s progress, development and prosperity.

Many voters, present at the interaction program, had raised many questions to the mayoral candidates regarding the development of the city. The voters even accused the big parties of not doing anything for the city. “Where is development? What have they done for the city and people living here?”

The voters had also requested Rishi Dhamala to take the genuine demands of Madhesi people to the national debate.

Meanwhile, the voters were busy in taking selfies with the celebrity journalist Rishi Dhamala.