KATHMANDU: The employees at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City while away their time after the civic body has failed to approve the annual budget and programmes for the current fiscal year.

“”We are passing our time idly,” said Er Devendra Dongol, chief at the Urban Development and Physical Construction Department, KMC. Dongol said the development work has come to a grinding halt following the delay in budget approval.

“Some are worried having to remain in idleness, but there are also those who feel amused,” he said, adding, “Four months have lapsed and the budget has not been approved.” The budget for the civic body was due in mid-July. Employees in the Account Section said that they are bored at without having to perform any duty. Some said, they are worried of not getting their salary due to the delay in budget.

Er Suraj Shakya, another employee said, “No new development work has been carried out yet.”

Shakya said they are routinely harassed by many people who come in daily and ask when will the budget come.

“We simply reply them that the budget is not at our disposal. But they are not convinced,” he added.

Development programmes worth Rs 150 million are pending since last year. The civic body had an estimated Rs 1.85 billion last fiscal. There are 2,300 employees, including cleaners in the KMC.