KATHMANDU, Jan 10: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal and Municipal Association of Nepal to create an environment to increase capital expenditure at the local level.
In a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance, Finance Minister Poudel requested the President of the Municipal Association of Nepal, Ashok Kumar Byanju and the President of the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, Hom Narayan Shrestha to play a role in increasing capital expenditure at the local level.
A Disappointing Picture of Capital Expenditure
Out of the amount that reached the local level, Rs. 126 billion has not been spent so far. Finance Minister Poudel urged the local authorities to spend the budget for the development of rural municipalities and municipalities. Meanwhile, he also requested for assistance to the families at high risk of COVID-19.
Similarly, he requested the stakeholders to make the Prime Minister Employment Program effective and productive. The Land-related Problem Resolution Commission has signed agreements with 193 municipalities in 47 districts to resolve the land issue. Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe also said that an agreement will be reached with the remaining municipalities and work will start soon.
Finance Minister Poudel said that the land-related problems would be resolved permanently by coordinating between the central, provincial and local governments. Land Minister Tumbahangphe said that special activism was needed at the local level as the work would be done at the local level. Hom Narayan Shrestha, president of the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal said that it was important to have a focal person at each local government.
