KATHMANDU, July 6: Some lawmakers, taking part in the deliberations on various topics incorporated in the Appropriation Bill-2017 in the Legislature-Parliament meeting today, expressed their concern over what they called allocation of development budget on the basis of political access and political influence. 

Districts having big leaders in the centre were allotted maximum budget while needs of districts represented by politically less power leaders and lawmakers from the small political parties were overlooked in the budget allocation. 

Such allocation of budget guided by the political connection and influence was against the principle of proportional development and natural justice, they said, adding that such (unjust) practice since the past had created imbalance in the wave of development. 
Lawmakers also took the opportunity to draw the government attention towards delay in completing the widening works of Muglin-Narayangadh Section, known as the country's lifeline connecting the Kathmandu. 

Dhaniram Poudel who was among those taking part in the deliberations expressed his discontent over ' no progress in the implementation' of many projects relating to infrastructure development. 

Call to identify 'true' landless 

In the meeting, lawmaker Dirgha Raj Bhat said real landless squatters were yet to be identified. The provision of granting the 'landless squatters' certificate' on the recommendation of the local-level was itself wrong. 

The Ministry of Land Reform and its subordinate bodies should hold the responsibility of identifying landless squatters and handing them land ownership certificate. It was a matter to be noted that the problems of real landless squatters were as it is despite the formation of six high-level commissions to deal with their issues, he added. 

Bikram Bahadur Thapa said it was a matter of concern that the land reform initiatives that had begun in 2021 BS were yet to be concluded while Krishna Bhakta Pokharel was of the view that the State should keep arable land in its ownership. 

Shyam Kumar Shrestha stressed the need for an integrated management of lands and for guaranteeing land ownership to landless by stopping the land fragmentation. 

Nisha Kumari Saha, Mohan Kumar Rai and Rajaram Syangtan, Surya Prakash Bala Rai, Buddhiram Bhandari and Kripasur Sherpa urged the government present such budget that could incorporate the issues of all districts proportionally and justifiably. RSS 

 
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