Kathmandu, July 10

The Parliament today passed the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal 2017/18 with majority. With the passage of the bill, ministries and other government offices can now spend as per the budget.

Before passing the bill, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba replied on the budget allocated for the president’s and vice president’s office, prime minister’s office and the National Planning Commission.  He said that as the budget was brought just before the second phase of local elections, new policies and programmes could not be included due to the election code.

“The government however, is committed to maintain 7 per cent economic growth,” he added.

He also said as the budget will be passed before June 15, all the local levels will be allowed to spend the development budget from June 16. “This could increase the nation’s expenditure capacity for development,” he added.

Prime Minister Deuba also said that after the local elections, the budget has prioritised provincial and general elections. He also said the government would make special effort to hand over relief amount to earthquake victims.

The prime minister also clarified that the Office of the President has not demanded budget for purchasing any vehicle. Responding to a query from Nepal Workers and Peasant Party’s lawmaker Prem Suwal,  Deuba said , “Special type of vehicle required for the security and safety of the president, the highest post of the country,” he said

Earlier, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affair Gopal Man Shrestha responded to queries and comments of lawmakers on  the 22 ministries currently headed by the prime minister on behalf of Deuba. DPM Shrestha said that the government would formulate industrial regulation.

He also informed the House that the government was doing homework to formulate a new policy on mines and minerals. He also said the government would bring a special programme to attract youths to agriculture and to control landslides.

Likewise, DPM Shrestha also said the government was forming special agriculture zones in 30 districts. Its target was to provide 100 per cent access to people to drinking water and sanitation.

He also said that water from the Melamchi Project would be supplied to Kathmandu before the forthcoming Dashain. He informed House that the government would develop a separate project for solid waste management.

On water supply, DPM Shrestha informed the House that a separate programme would be launched in all seven provinces and 600 special programmes would be brought for drought affected areas and also to extend special sanitation projects to 75 districts.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affair and Local Development Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar  said the government would hand over power and resources  to local levels gradually.

Responding of queries and comments of lawmakers on this year’s budget, he also said that the government had issued a directive to newly elected local levels on planning, meeting procedures and model laws. Minister Ghachhadar said that the government would provide necessary training and orientation. He also said that the local levels were autonomous in the sense that they could mobilise their own resources.