Sudurpaschim provincial government spends Rs 2.53 billion in first five months of current fiscal year

Dhangadhi: The Sudurpaschim Provincial Government has spent Rs 2.53 billion 68 lakh 86 thousand in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2082/83. Out of the total budget allocation of Rs 33.47 billion 60 lakh 48 thousand for this year, the provincial government has utilized 7.58 percent by mid-Mansir.

Last year, the provincial government had allocated Rs 31.62 billion 98 lakh 28 thousand and spent Rs 3.47 billion 92 lakh 81 thousand (11 percent) during the same period. Although the budget for the current fiscal year was implemented from the beginning of the year, expenditure has been one billion less than last year, with capital expenditure showing weaker progress compared to current budget spending.

According to the Provincial Accounts Controller's Office, only Rs 430 million 110 thousand of the capital budget of Rs 19.83 billion 200 million has been spent by mid-Mansir. By comparison, last year, Rs 1.31 billion 33 million 69 thousand of the total capital budget of Rs 18.76 billion 24 million 23 thousand was spent during the same period. Capital expenditure, which accounted for seven percent last year, has fallen to only two percent this year.

Current expenditure progress shows that 15.45 percent has been spent this year, slightly lower than last year's 16.84 percent. The provincial government spent Rs 2.10 billion 67 million 76 thousand this year from a current expenditure allocation of Rs 13.63 billion 56 million 42 thousand, compared to Rs 2.16 billion 59 million 11 thousand spent last year from an allocation of Rs 12.85 billion 74 million 5 lakh.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, with the largest budget, has spent Rs 35 billion 50 million 94 thousand on capital and Rs 14 billion 34 million 22 thousand on current expenditure, accounting for three percent of its total budget of Rs 15.32 billion 17.40 million. Last year, the ministry had a budget of Rs 14.59 billion 7.884 billion, of which one billion was spent.

The Ministry of Social Development, with the second-largest budget of Rs 7.55 billion 5.297 billion, has spent Rs 854.739 billion (12 percent) to date. During the same period, the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives spent Rs 20.171 billion (6 percent) out of a total budget of Rs 3.27 billion 8.153 billion, while the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment spent Rs 258.94 billion (11 percent) of its Rs 2.32 billion 1.31 billion budget.

Provincial Minister for Economic Affairs Bahadur Singh Thapa attributed the slow budget expenditure to the impact of the Gen-z movement, during which ministries and subordinate offices were set on fire. "All documents were destroyed during the Gen-z movement, affecting operations for about a month and delaying the issuance of budget expenditure guidelines," he said.

Minister Thapa added that the impact of the Gen-z movement is still being felt, with social development offices not yet fully operational. However, many infrastructure projects have been tendered, and he expressed confidence that all offices will be fully functional within the next month, which will improve progress in budget expenditure.