KATHMANDU, June 7: Lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota has demanded downsizing the House of Representatives (HoR) reasoning that it was huge. Putting forth his views during the post-budget deliberation at the National Assembly meeting on Wednesday, lawmaker Devkota pointed out the need of curtailing the size of HoR which has a quota for 275 members.

He viewed that the budget introduced for the fiscal year 2023/24 was still focused on centralized thoughts and mentality. 

“The programmes relating to the president and prime minister block the programmes proposed by most of the ministries,” he said.

Although it was positive to scrap the offices recommended by the Public Expenditure Review Commission, the government was not effective in handing over fiscal rights to the provinces and the local level, said Devkota. Lawmaker Devkota further argued that the federal government thinks that it is the master, thereby botching up enforcement of fiscal federalism. He expressed grave concern over the collusion of both ruling and opposition parties to restore the already ditched Constituency Infrastructure Development Fund.

On the occasion, lawmaker Bamdev Gautam said although the budget was positive, it always suffers implementation.

The budget had no destination, aim and objective, lawmaker Bhairav Sundar Shrestha said.

Lawmaker Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa blamed that the budget failed to set a clear target.

Likewise, lawmaker Goma Devi Timilsina said although the budget was allocated for development works, the quality aspect was not considered. There was gross misuse of agriculture grants.

According to lawmaker Durga Gurung and Sharada Devi Bhatta stress must be laid for effective implementation of the budget.

 
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