Koshi Province Government Allocates Budget for Small-Scale Projects Over Provincial Priorities
Summary
Koshi Province Government allocates budgets for over 2,500 projects including large strategic roads and numerous small-scale projects like temple walls and culverts, despite regulations prioritizing larger infrastructure.
Key Points
- The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of Koshi Province selected over 2,500 projects for fiscal year 2083/84, with about 350 projects having budgets over Rs 1 crore totaling approximately Rs 8 billion.
- The government allocated Rs 10.5 crore for around 450 small projects each costing less than Rs 5 lakh, including construction of walls of temples, small culverts, and minor infrastructures.
- Major infrastructure projects funded include road budgets such as Rs 35 crore 24 lakh for Bhojpur Dingla road and Rs 35 crore 84 lakh for the road from Sankranti Bazar to Khamlalung.
- The budgeting process did not follow Koshi Province's established criteria, which mandate minimum costs for road and bridge projects of Rs 1 crore and Rs 25 lakh for other physical infrastructure projects, leading to allocation for many small impractical projects.
