Lawmakers flay haphazard budget transfers

Published On: March 10, 2017 12:10 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, March 10: Lawmakers have flayed the haphazard transfers of budget from various projects to different election constituencies with political motive.

Speaking at a meeting of Finance Committee of the parliament organized on Thursday to discuss 'non-budgetary allocation', members of the committee said that such transfers only perpetuate financial indiscipline.

However, Minister for Finance, Finance Secretary and the Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC) argued that budget transfers have been made as per the existing laws and established practice of providing funds for projects facing resource crunch.

Ram Sharan Mahat, a member of the committee, said funds have been diverted on projects that are not mentioned in the red book. 

Lawmakers have also questioned the intent of the finance minister behind reckless transfer of budget in some particular districts in the wake of announcement of the local level polls. 

Budget transfers have been made to some 150 projects in Rolpa and 149 projects in Chitwan alone. 

Surendra Pandey, another lawmaker, also said that haphazard allocation of budget is putting a dent on economy. “Such transfers neither support growth, nor create employment opportunities,” he added.

Defending his move, Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said budget transfer was justifiable as long as it is done under the budget ceiling of Rs 1,048 billion for the fiscal year 2016/17. “We have not done any transfer yet. What we have done so far is the assurance of budget within the budget ceiling of respective ministry,” he argued.


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