HoR session: Budget-making process should be revised, insists Parliamentarian Bhattarai

Kathmandu, June 16: CPN (UML) lawmaker Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai has emphasized on policy and structural change in the budget-making process. Participating in the discussion on the allocation of various ministries under the Appropriation Bill, 2081 BS in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, MP Bhattarai complained that the budget book was filled up with 'small pocket' projects.

Urging to improve the situation of low capital expenditure and high financial expenditure, lawmaker Bhattarai remarked that "Pocket Bank" was used as a basis for budgeting without following the "Project Bank".

He further urged for giving up the illusion that elections could be won by taking small projects dispersed in the election constituencies. Though the issue of taking advance tax in customs is fine in terms of increasing the income of the state, it will badly affect the consumers, he said.

MP Bhattarai further complained that the budget was not prepared after proper discussions with coalition parties in the government. He urged the government to advance the Tamor Reservoir Project, which would be easy in terms of investment, as it is positive that the energy sector is being made the basis of Nepal's prosperity. The Tamor project is located in Taplejung, Panchthar and Dhankuta districts.