Dhankuta, June 5

With just a month remaining before the fiscal wraps up, around 40 million rupees meant for farmers in Dhankuta and Terhathum is likely to freeze for want of mandatory procedure for spending the amount.

The government in Province 1 had earlier sent 39.5 million rupees to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre of Dhankuta.

The office, which has jurisdiction over Dhankuta and Terhathum districts, however, has failed to utilise the fund, apparently due to the programme operation procedure.

“The amount was to be spent under various programmes related to ginger, lemon, cardamom, coffee and so on, but as the province hasn’t sent us the programme operation guidelines till this time, the budget is almost sure to freeze,” said chief of the centre Ramesh Kumar KC.

According to Account Officer Parshuram Rawal at the centre, the centre has been able to spend some 24 per cent of the total 79 million plus rupees.