Rs 10.3b from PM’s Relief Fund spent for disaster victims

KATHMANDU, June 29: The government has spent over Rs 10.3 billion from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the victims of the recent earthquakes and landslides. A total of Rs 12 billion was collected in the fund since the April 25 earthquake.


According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, of the total collected funds, around Rs 1.96 billion remained in the fund till last Friday. As per the assessment of loss and demands from various disaster-hit districts, the government allocated the funds through ministries, security agencies and local government bodies. However,16 districts have not received any fund from the prime minister's fund.

The ministry said the aforementioned Rs 8.58 million was dispatched to the respective districts and Rs 1.96 million was allocated to the various ministries and security agencies -- Nepal Army, Armed Police and Nepal Police. Of the dispatched amount, Rs 6.54 million was distributed to the victims of the earthquake and landslides.

A report presented at a parliamentary committee on Sunday stated that Rs 540 million was allocated to the Ministry of Urban Development to purchase tarpaulins, construct temporary shelters and manage drinking. Similarly, Rs 22.5 million was allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture for the treatment of quake-injured domestic animals and birds and affected farmers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent Rs 120 million for transportation of tarpaulins and tents bought and received as foreign assistance. Likewise, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation spent Rs 100 million, Ministry of Commerce and Supply Rs 150 million, Ministry of Industry Rs 50 million and the health ministry Rs 50.5 million.

The PM's Relief Fund allocated Rs 180 million to the Nepal Army, Rs 130 million to Nepal Police and Rs 100 million to the Armed Police Force (APF) for search, rescue and debris clearance. The government has already allocated necessary budget to Nepal Army as fuel expenses for aircraft service.

Though the government has repeatedly explained that the authorities would supervise, coordinate and monitor reconstruction work and audit expenditures and accounts, parliamentarians are skeptical about proper use of the amount so allocated.

Parliamentarians Dhan Bahadur Gurung, Dor Bahadur Upadhaya and Ram Hari Khatiwada, among others, accused Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam of skipping the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the second time, to avoid questions of irregularities in the use of money released from the PM's fund. They also decided to seek clarification from him in another meeting.

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