HETAUDA: Province 3 Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Kailash Prasad Dhungel presented a budget of Rs 1.02 billion for remaining period of the current fiscal year, in provincial assembly meeting on Thursday. The budget includes Rs 554.86 million towards recurrent and Rs 555.64 million towards capital expenditure.

Presenting the budget, Minister Dhungel stated that the budget of the fiscal year had prioritised construction of tunnel highway, establishment of provincial dairy development board, infrastructure development and relief to earthquake survivors.

Taking part in the discussion on the budget, State Assembly members stressed the need to identify and mobilise economic resources of Province 3 while noting that the budget should lay focus on the development of hydropower, agriculture, tourism and industrial advancement.

Province Appropriation Bill

On the same day, the province parliamentary meeting, held for 30 minutes, unanimously endorsed the province appropriation bill. In the meeting held under the chairmanship of Province Speaker Sanu Kumar Shrestha, Economic Affairs Minister Dhungel had presented the appropriation bill after suspending sub-clauses (1-5) and (7-10) of clause 13 that required submission before 15 days.

Some of the state assembly members have lambasted the province government for not bringing pro-people budget. Next meeting will take place at 3:00 pm on Friday.