Key Takeaways:

• Sudurpaschim passes Rs 37.70 billion budget after political deal
• Seven member panel to investigate alleged budget irregularities
• Committee to submit findings by November 6
• Supplementary budget to be introduced based on report findings

DHANGADHI, OCTOBER 14 Sudurpaschim Province has agreed to investigate allegations of irregularities in its Rs 37.70 billion budget and prepare a supplementary budget based on the findings, a move that ended a three-month political deadlock and cleared the way for the budget's passage. The provincial assembly endorsed the budget after ruling coalition partners agreed to form a seven-member parliamentary committee to examine disputed allocations and submit a report by November 6. 'The committee will study the budget presented in the provincial assembly and submit its report by November 6. A supplementary budget will be brought based on the report,' Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari said during Tuesday's assembly meeting. The agreement helped secure support from ruling party lawmakers of Nepali Communist Party (NCP) who had demanded an inquiry into allegations that middlemen influenced budget preparation, commissions were sought and projects were selected through political connections. The party's parliamentary group had decided on Sunday to endorse the budget, which was made public that day, to end a three-month budget impasse, while seeking an investigation into the disputed allocations. The CPN-UML also agreed to the arrangement. Finance Minister Chakra Bahadur Malla presented the Rs 37.70 billion budget on Sunday, 85 days after the start of the fiscal year, ending an unusually long delay in budget approval.