KATHMANDU, March 23: Minister for Urban Development, Ram Kumari Jhakri has said that the ministry should not invest in structures including view towers in the upcoming budget. She further added that there is no need to include unnecessary expenditures in the budget.
During a discussion on the budget ceiling received through the National Planning Commission for the fiscal year 2022/23 at the ministry on Monday, Minister Jhakri said that the plan that would benefit the citizens more should be chosen from now onward.
We will not add any programs for view towers and meeting halls...
Stating that the program of integrated housing should also be organized in view of the fundamental rights of the people, Minister Jhakri said that the budget should be allocated for the construction of the buildings of the National Human Rights Commission, Women's Commission and other constitutional commissions as well.
Similarly, Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ramesh Prasad Singh said that new programs should be included in the upcoming budget. He said, “A new plan for an Utility Corridor and Integrated Urban Development Plan should be added to the forthcoming budget.”
Stating that provisions should be made in the budget for integrated urban development of the Kathmandu Valley, he stressed on the need for making provisions in the budget for technical assistance programs for the construction of a waste management assistance center.
The ministry had received a budget ceiling of Rs 31 billion last year for the current fiscal year. The ministry said that Rs 12 billion was needed for the reconstruction and urged the Planning Commission to increase the budget ceiling.
