Kathmandu, June 16: Deliberations on Appropriation Bill-2083 BS continue in the House of Representatives (HoR). A meeting of the lower house today held discussions focusing on budget allocations to various ministries.
In the session, lawmaker Guru Prasad Baral demanded the government increase investment in science and technology as it serves as the foundation of all knowledge.
Ramesh Kumar Mall proposed the government to reduce the budget appropriation to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs by just one rupee. He expressed his concern over the exclusion of three Karnali-roadway projects in the budget book.
Balawati Sharma accused the government of failing to pay due attention to the construction of roadways, schools, and Bailey bridge. “The budget missed a clear approach for physical infrastructure development.”
The lawmaker proposed the government to deduct the budget allocated to the Infrastructure Development Ministry to one rupee.
Bishnu Maya BK said budget has overlooked the need to control the drug abuse and drug peddling, stating that budget allocation to the disaster risk mitigation is also insufficient.
She proposed the government to reduce the budget to the Ministry of Home Affairs to one rupee, drawing the government’s attention to ‘insufficient’ budget for combating cyber crime.
Yagya Bahadur Bogati was of the view that government failed to realise the gravity of energy, water resource and irrigation sector while allocating the budget.
According to the lawmaker, the decision announced through the budget to impose tax on electricity tariff has caused an additional financial burden on the citizens.
He proposed to reduce the budget to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation by one rupee. The lawmaker said the budget failed to address the development concerns of the backward areas.
Bogati also companied of a lack of consistency in regard with the government policies, the country’s needs and proposed plans and programmes.
Meanwhile, the meeting of the lower house was postponed by 15 minutes after MPs demanded the presence of concerned ministers during deliberation on the ministry-wise appropriation for the new fiscal year.
