Jhapa, April 9

Development budget of the current fiscal is likely to freeze in most local levels in Jhapa.

The fact that the budget is on the verge of being frozen has dashed people’s anticipation that development works would pick up tempo after election of the people’s representatives. Birtamode Municipality had allocated more than Rs 28 crore for the current fiscal. However, less than 50 per cent budget has been spent so far.

Mayor Dhruba Siwakoti said that all the works could not be completed within the two months though work was carried out swiftly. “The problem arose because the budget arrived very late,” Mayor Siwakoti said.

Development budget is likely to freeze in Arjundhara Municipality. A budget of Rs 180 million was allocated for the municipality. Work on 46 bridges and culverts is under way in the municipality. Mayor Hari Rana expressed doubt that all the projects would be completed within the fiscal. Kankai Municipality Mayor Rajendra Pokhrel said only 60 per cent development work was over in the municipality. “It is very difficult to use up the entire budget this fiscal,” Pokhrel said.

Bhadrapur Municipality had allocated Rs 280 million budget for the current fiscal. Out of the total budget, only 70 million rupees has been spent so far. Mayor Jivan Kumar Shrestha said that after being elected they had dedicated themselves to development work. “We understand that the pace of development work was slow prior to polls,” said Shrestha.

Out of Rs 180 million allocated for the current fiscal, Gauradaha Municipality has spent just half of the budget. Mayor Rohit Shah said his office was working to complete the projects on time. “But, we do not want to finish the projects in haste. If the budget is frozen, we will use it next year,” he added.

Completion of less than 50 per cent development works in the local levels in Jhapa has raised  question over the efficiency of people’s representatives. Many projects were finished in haste without meeting the set standards.

Majority of local levels have used the budget to construct culverts, bridges and structures damaged by the floods. Locals have urged the local levels to complete those projects as floods might sweep away incomplete projects next monsoon.

All 15 local levels seem to be in haste to finish the development budget in Jhapa. Locals, however, have cautioned people’s representatives about the quality of work in projects completed in haste.