Madhesh Province government’s budget spending slow, only about 3.5 % in the first quarter

Janakpur Dham — The Madhesh Province Government was able to spend only about 3.5 percent of its budget in the first quarter. According to data from the Office of the Provincial Auditor, Madhesh in Janakpur Dham, in the first three months of FY 2082/83, only 3.50 percent of the combined current and capital budget was spent.

For the current fiscal year the province had a budget of ** Rs 4 6 billion 98 crore 33 lakh 51 thousand** — this included Rs 16 billion 72 crore 5 lakh 17 thousand for current expenditure, and Rs 30 billion 26 crore 28 lakh 34 thousand for capital. By the end of Asoj, only Rs 1 billion 64 crore 28 lakh 18 thousand 914 had been spent.

Of that, Rs 1 billion 28 crore 42 lakh 91 thousand 121 was for current expenditure; Rs 35 crore 85 lakh 27 thousand 794 was for capital expenditure, according to information from Nire ndra Lal Karn, Information Officer at the Auditor’s Office.

According to the Auditor’s Office figures, the highest percentage of spending was by the Madhesh Public Service Commission: of the Rs 10 crore 49 lakh 99 thousand allocated, 15.19 percent (Rs 1 crore 59 lakh 47 thousand 344) was spent.

The Madhesh Provincial Assembly spent 14.14 percent of its allocated budget: of Rs 45 crore 98 lakh 84 thousand allocated, Rs 6 crore 50 lakh 9 thousand 976 was spent by Asoj.

Likewise, the Madhesh Province Planning Commission spent 12.77 percent, the Ministry of Finance, Madhesh 11.17 percent, the Office of the Chief Attorney, Madhesh 9.78 percent, the Office of the Chief Minister & Council of Ministers, Madhesh 9.78 percent, the Ministry of Labour & Transport, Madhesh 8.49 percent, the Ministry of Forests & Environment, Madhesh 7.51 percent, the Ministry of Health & Population, Madhesh 6.31 percent, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Communication & Law, Madhesh 4.39 percent, the Ministry of Energy, Irrigation & Drinking Water, Madhesh 3.26 percent, the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture & Cooperatives, Madhesh 3.02 percent, the Ministry of Education & Culture, Madhesh 2.56 percent, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure & Development, Madhesh 1.92 percent, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism, Madhesh 1.21 percent, and the Ministry of Sports & Social Welfare, Madhesh just 0.42 percent.

The province managed only 1.18 percent spending of its development (capital) budget in the first three months of the year. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy Irrigation & Drinking Water and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development hadn’t even spent 1 percent. The Finance Ministry spent 5.97 percent of its capital budget: of the Rs 3 crore 52 lakh 90 thousand allocated, only Rs 21 lakh 5 thousand 692 was spent.

The Ministry of Energy Irrigation & Drinking Water was allocated Rs 3 billion 85 crore 96 lakh 88 thousand, of which Rs 7 crore 40 lakh 30 thousand 819 (1.92 percent) was spent. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development had stipulated Rs 15 billion 56 crore 61 lakh 55 thousand for capital, of which only Rs 26 crore 30 lakh 71 thousand 851 (1.69 percent) was spent, the office reported.