Madhesh Budget Dispute: Parliamentary Task Force Submits 10-Point Report

A parliamentary task force formed to resolve the budget dispute in Madhesh Province has submitted its report. The 10-point report was presented by JSP-Nepal MP Upendra Mahato on behalf of the task force during the Madhesh Provincial Assembly meeting on Tuesday.

The report suggests correcting the weaknesses in the budget and provides 10 recommendations. It proposes implementing infrastructure development projects under the ministry through units in the ministry’s districts, as mentioned in the annual budget book for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84.

The report also recommends implementing government plans by ensuring sources and regulating and controlling multi-year plans based on the report of the Ministry of Finance and Technical Committee. Additionally, it suggests suspending programs like nutrition distribution under the special grant given to local levels under inter-governmental financial transfer and allocating the budget to other headings based on demand.

Other recommendations include settling unpaid bills for projects implemented in the current fiscal year from the upcoming budget, providing grants to local levels in five installments, and increasing the budget for the Kamala Bridge construction project in the upcoming fiscal year.

The task force was formed after the main opposition parties, JSP-Nepal and Janamat Party, demanded a re-write of the budget or the formation of a task force, leading to a disruption in the provincial assembly. The task force, comprising one MP from each of the seven parties represented in the provincial assembly, was formed on Ashar 28 and submitted its report within two days.

MP Upendra Mahato informed the assembly that the report was prepared and presented based on consensus among the task force members.