-21 million for sports infrastructure developments
-400 belly bridges to be constructed
-12 billion for the local bodies
-18% salary hike with Rs 1000 monthly allowance
- Rs 16 billion for CA polls
- Rs 30 billion for energy related projects
- Rs 1.14 billion for Sikta irrigation project
- Rs 5.24 billion for Melamchi project
- Babai irrigation project is expected to complete next year
KATHMANDU, July 14: The government on Sunday has announced annual budget of Rs.517 billion and 240 million for the Fiscal Year 2013/14 through ordinances.
Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala announced the annual budget for the Fiscal Year 2013/14 from Harka Gurung Hall of National Planning Commission at Singhdurbar. The announcement of the budget for fiscal year 2013/14 was originally scheduled for 5:30 pm Sunday, which was delayed by over two hours. The budget announcement began at 7:15 pm. [break]
The government has allocated Rs. 16 billion for the purpose of holding Constituent Assembly elections in a free and fair manner slated for November 19. It has reiterated its commitment to hold elections on the scheduled date.
Pashupati Area Development Trust, Lumbini Development Trust, President´s Chure Bhawar Conservation Project, and Bheri-Babai Mulitipurpose Diversion Project have been recognised as the projects of national pride, Finance Minister announced. The budget has given continuity to the development projects of common interests that the previous governments had brought out.
Finance Minister Koirala said in his speech that the budget has been allocated under different titles as hydro-electricity and energy; agriculture; infrastructure development; export and import; improvement in public service and good governance, education health and drinking water, tourism promotion; promotion of investment in private sector.
The government has increased salaries of the government employees and security forces have increased by 18 per cent. Moreover, they will be provided Rs 1,000 monthly as an allowance, Minister Koirala said during the budget announcement.
Finance Minister Koirala said that the government will work out to introduce Electronic Passports by 2014. Likewise, the government has allocated budget for Consular Affairs Departments to be constructed at Tripureswor. Koirala said the government would install software and technical equipments at the CDO offices across the country for smooth distribution of the Machine Readable Passports.
Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi, ministers, heads of the constitutional bodies, chiefs of the security agencies, senior leaders of the major parties, Vice chairperson of the National Planning Commission, secretaries of the various ministries and the representatives of the business community were present.
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