KATHMANDU, July 14

Government has given importance in the infrastructure development in its budget today.

Announcing the budget for fiscal year 2015-16, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat allocated Rs 2.07 billion for the overall development of sports in the country. The total amount is more than 500 million more compared to previous fiscal year.

The government allocated Rs 210 million to construct cricket grounds across the country, while Mulpani alone got a sum of Rs 110 million. “We will construct cricket grounds in main cities outside the Kathmandu valley in the next fiscal year,” said Mahat. “We will also start an international-standard cricket stadium in Dhangadhi,” he added. The government also allocated budget to uplift the standard of TU Stadium and Institute of Engineering grounds in Pulchowk to host the international tournaments in future.

Dr Mahat allocated Rs 130 million for the maintenance of Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwor, while put aside Rs 40 million to prepare ANFA Technical Centre grounds as the alternative venue of Dasharath Stadium.

Likewise, the government also gave continuity to the ‘One Constituency One Ground’ programme and the policy to reward the medal-winning athletes apart from insuring the national team players as proposed by the National Sports Council. “We will also construct covered hall in main cities across the nation, while we have planned to construct an international-standard covered hall in the valley,” said Dr Mahat.

“We will organise the seventh National Games in the next fiscal year and have also allocated budget to participate in the upcoming South Asian Games with an expectation of faring well,” added the Finance Minister. Also the government decided to distribute Rs 10,000 worth kits to 4,000 community schools of the country to develop the sports from grass root level.