Only 11 percent development budget of local bodies spent

Most of the development works to be carried out by local bodies has stalled and the grant to the village development committees (VDC) remained unclaimed as the ruling seven party alliance and Maoists fails to make consensus in this regard.

Of the total amount allocated for the VDCs’, only 11 percent grant reached them till seven months of the current fiscal year.

Of the three billion rupees grant allocated for the VDCs’, only 350 million rupees has been released so far. Similarly, of the eight billion rupees allocated for the local bodies, only 1 billion and 480 million rupees was released.

The government has doubled the grant to VDCs’ from this year and decided to provide one million rupees to each VDC.

Newspaper reports quoted a high level source at the Finance Ministry as saying that though the amount was to be spent on the basis of political consensus, most of the amount remained not spent in absence of such political consensus.

In many villages, the meeting of the village council, which is responsible for making development plans and allocating budget, could not be held due to Maoist’s obstruction.

Maoists have been warning not to conduct development works in the villages before they join interim government.

Additionally, a low amount has been released to the district development committees (DDC) as well during the period. Of the 240 million rupees meant for DDCs', only 110 million rupees has been released so far. nepalnews.com pb Mar 26 07