KMC Spends Only 38 % Of Capital Budget


Kathmandu Metropolitan City has spent only 37.9 per cent development budget in the last Fiscal Year 2020/21.
Of the Rs. 15.56 billion budget other than the social security funds, it could spend only Rs. 5.71 billion, including 37.9 per cent capital and 34.87 per cent current expenditure, and 27.23 per cent operational expenditure.

According to the statistics presented at the annual progress assessment for the fiscal year 2020/21, organised at the City Hall the other day, the capital city had mobilised 55.66 per cent budget from its internal resources while the rest was managed with the grants from the federal and provincial government and public participation.
The assessment programme had reviewed various programmes and projects executed by the KMC’s departments, secretariat, projects and units.

On the basis of sector-wise allocation, 84.76 per cent was spent on education, 89.95 per cent on drinking water and sanitation, 52.8 per cent on gender equality and social inclusion, 37.63 per cent on environment and climate and 62.24 per cent on statistical system.
Speaking at the function, Hari Prabha Khadgi Shrestha, Deputy Mayor of the Metropolis, said that good governance would be guaranteed by the provision of immediate service to the service recipients.

“The capacity of the metropolis to implement the plans formulated in accordance with its policy should be enhanced. It may take some time but service is something to be received immediately. So let’s further improve in this regard,” she said.
Chief Administrative Officer Rajeshwar Gyawali said that the focus of the city office would be on increasing the spending capacity for development by carrying out research and implementation of approved plans.

He said that the COVID-19 pandemic made the achievement of the annual targets for last year difficult. According to him, implementation of ongoing plans should be made effective this year.
Likewise, Spokesperson of the metropolis and Chairman of Ward 15, Ishwar Man Dangol, said that the city needed an integrated development. “Development aspirations of the citizens would be fulfilled only with the balance of effective revenue collection and spending capacity of the office,” he said.

Based on the annual policy of the metropolis, each department should make its own goal. The departments should focus the budget towards meeting the targets. Saroj Basnet, Vice-Chairman of the Urban Planning Commission, said that such activities will make it easier to reach the goal of sustainable development.

Last year, 208 schemes for infrastructure development were implemented. Of these, work orders have been issued in 148 cases. Likewise, 60 were in the procurement process while 168 schemes were completed including 112 out of 165 ongoing schemes and 56 out of 16 new schemes.
Four ward buildings were constructed last year.

Eight parks, two overhead bridges and 1,300 manhole covers were installed. A total of 41.42 km of new roads was built, 15.59 km of roads was repaired and 56.91 km of roads was tarred.
In terms of environment management, trees were planted in 1,480 places.

Source : TRN,