Biratnagar, June 24 :

The sixth municipal assembly of Biratnagar Metropolitan City has today made public a budget of Rs 3 billion 378 million 110 thousand for the Fiscal Year 2020/21. As per the statement of estimated income and expenditure for the next fiscal year, Rs 898 million 296 thousand 700 is the income. Similarly, Rs 768 million 252 thousand has been earmarked towards allocation of revenue to be received from the federal and province governments while Rs 380 million 768 thousand would be mobilised from the fiscal equilisation funds to be provided by federal and province governments. It is stated that Rs 1 billion 20 million 900 thousand will be mobilised from the conditional grants from the federal government. Likewise, Rs 21 million nine thousand has been earmarked towards the conditional grants to be provided by the province government, Rs 130 million towards the federal government’s special grants, Rs 30 million towards the province government’s matching grants, Rs 32.67 million towards grants to be received from foreign and other organisations. It is estimated that Rs 96.2 million would be mobilised from public participation. Towards expenditure heading in which Rs 3 billion 378 million 100 thousand has been earmarked, Rs 341 million 950 thousand is set aside for administrative expenses Rs 360 million for social security expenses and Rs 114 million 950 thousand for environment and sanitation management including purchase of land for construction of landfill site. Out of the total budget, Rs 115 million 795 thousand has been allocated for urban health. This includes the money to be provided by the federal government for this purpose. Deputy mayor Indira Karki shared at the budget presentation programme that Rs 561.3 million has been allocated for education development programme, Rs 20.924 million has been earmarked for women, children, youth and sports development programmes, Rs 65.221 million for other programmes and Rs 1.717 billion for other capital expenses including physical infrastructure construction programmes. On the occasion, mayor Bhim Parajuli unveiled the policy and programmes of the metropolis for fiscal year 2020/21. He said the budget has been formulated in line with the policy and programmes. Mayor Parajuli expressed the belief that the policy and programmes will bring total transformation in the metropolis in the infrastructure, information, fiscal management and revenue mobilisation, education, health, gender equality, sports, social inclusion, tourism and cultural sectors. He added that the budget that has been allocated to these sectors would help build a modern Biratnagar by preserving the history of the city. Chief of State-1 Somnath Adhikari ‘Pyasi’ said the people’s representatives should take initiation for the effective implementation of the policy and programmes and the budget by removing the past shortcomings. He urged them to work respecting the people’s aspirations by taking he present challenging situation as an opportunity.