Valley
Khatiwada says supplementary budget unlikely
The Finance Ministry has ruled out the possibility of introducing a supplementary budget immediately for the current fiscal year as hinted by Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.The Finance Ministry has ruled out the possibility of introducing a supplementary budget immediately for the current fiscal year as hinted by Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada on Tuesday said there has not been any discussion in the government on the supplementary budget.
“Till this date, we haven’t thought about the supplementary allocation for this fiscal year,” said Khatiwada, addressing a press meet at the ministry. “There is no point in rolling out a supplementary budget as we have just started implementing the budget for the current fiscal year.”
According to Khatiwada, supplementary budget could be introduced after half-yearly review of the budget.
“Generally, the government may present a supplementary budget considering the situation of the revenue mobilisation if the half-yearly evaluation shows some of the sectors are not receiving adequate funds,” he said. “But the supplementary budget is unlikely to there is no possibility of rolling out before the mid-term evaluation.”
Minister Khatiwada’s statement came at the time when NCP Co-chair Dahal was advocating for the launch of populist programmes via supplementary budget for the current fiscal year. Talking to reporters before embarking on India visit early this month, Dahal had said the government had been mulling over rolling out a supplementary budget to make “people feel that the government is doing something for them”. Reiterating the statement also during the visit, Dahal said the government would introduce a supplementary budget to keeps the promises that the ruling party had made in its election manifesto, like increasing the allowance for senior citizens among others.
A section of the ruling NCP has been disatisatisfied with Minister Khatiwada after left out populist and political programmes in the budget. Some NCP leaders claim the budget has failed to meet the people’s expectations.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Secretary Rajan Khanal urged not to make speculations on the supplementary budget. “There is a clear provision for the supplementary budget in the constitution. The ministry will make decisions as per the law,” he said.