KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 17

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has directed all ministries to spend 30 per cent of their budget within one month.

Lack of capital expenditure has often contributed to the liquidity crunch the country is facing at present, he reasoned. "Any ministry is not exempted of dilly-dallying to implement budget. Finance ministry is no exceptional. Thirty per cent of the budget the respective ministry has received should be spent within one month. The Finance Ministry will provide necessary help in this regard," said the minister at an inter-ministry discussion at the Ministry of Finance today.

Warning that the budget would be diverted in case of failure to spend it quarterly, he was firm on ending the trend of releasing budget towards the end of a fiscal year. He also directed prompt delivery of government services.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Renu Kumari Yadav, Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada and Minister for Water Supply Umakanta Chaudhary.