The comment from the minister of the interim election government comes at a time when few politicians are lobbing claims that the government introduced a full budget for this fiscal year on Tuesday without consulting major political parties. [break]
“The birth of the incumbent government was possible because of consensus among leading political parties. Yet consultation with them is not compulsory prior to taking every decision,” Minister Koirala told a press conference organized at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.
The former energy secretary, however, said his team had informed top leaders of major political parties about the budget´s content.
“We also made sincere attempts to hold discussions with members of those parties who had previously held portfolios of finance minister. We were able to hold meetings with some, while others were busy,” he told journalists.
He further said: “One former finance minister of a major political party, who is now saying he was not approached for discussion, had told us that he was leaving for Dhankuta when we tried to arrange a meeting.” Minister Koirala was referring to former finance minister Surendra Pandey of the CPN-UML.
He also refuted claims that the finance ministry did not take consent of the National Planning Commission (NPC), a top-level advisory body responsible for formulation of the country´s development plans and policies, prior to introducing the budget.
“A meeting of the Commission held yesterday (Tuesday) had passed the budget following which it was endorsed by the Cabinet (and President Ram Baran Yadav),” he said.
Janak Raj Shah, an NPC member who was also present at the press meet, only said the resource committee of the Commission approved budgetary ceiling of around Rs 405 billion for this fiscal year. He did not elaborate.
NPC Vice Chairman Deependra Bahadur Kshetry also confirmed that the Commission had extended a budgetary ceiling of around Rs 405 billion and a meeting of the Commission had endorsed the budget on Tuesday.
“But the finance ministry did not disclose development programs included in the budget,” he said. “This goes against regular practice as it is the NPC´s duty to formulate development programs and not the finance ministry´s.”
Speaking of 404.82-billion-rupee budget, Minister Koirala said the current fiscal policy´s major aims were to make necessary budgetary appropriations to hold free and fair election of the Constituent Assembly, make the economy more vibrant, ensure continuation of public services and uphold good governance.
“We hope our attempts would also quell the growing crisis of confidence among international development partners who have been blaming lack of full budget for inability to soak up funds appropriated by donors and lagging development activities in the country,” Minister Koirala said.
He, however, acknowledged that the budget would not meet hopes of everyone as it was prepared and introduced at a time when only around three months were left for the fiscal year to end.
“That´s why it does not include new policies and programs,” the minister said. But this should not mean the incumbent government did not have the mandate to introduce new policies and programs through budget, he quickly added. “We didn´t include them focusing on self-discipline,” he further said.
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The Ministry of Finance will give authority to every ministry to make use of funds allocated through the budget by Thursday, Finance Secretary Santa Raj Subedi said.
“This is being done to ensure early implementation of development projects,” Subedi informed. The government has currently made it mandatory for ministries to get approval for implementation of Priority One projects within 10 days of filing application.
In this regard, the National Planning Commission has expressed commitment to extend approval to Priority One projects within three working days. These projects, as mentioned in the budget, include Rani Jamara Kularia, Sikta, Babai and Mahakali irrigation projects, Kathmandu Valley Urban Road Project, postal highways, Mid-hills Highway, Road Sector Development Project, Sub-regional Transport Enhancement Project, District Road Support Project and Ring Road Improvement Project.
“The government has allocated 88 percent of the total capital expenditure for Priority One projects,” Subedi said, adding, “capital spending would be higher this year than in last year”.
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