Most lawmakers have said the implementation of the budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 would be a big challenge in its current shape and size. Speaking at the House Tuesday, one day after the presentation of the budget, lawmakers have said although there are some positive programmes in the budget, the implementation part is difficult.

Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the budget had started political inclusiveness by continuing good programmes introduced by the previous government. However, Dr Mahat said it would be difficult to implement the budget without increasing the salary of the civil servants.

It is not possible to implement the budget without pleasing the civil servants, Dr Mahat said.

Bijaya Kumar Poudel of UML said the implementation of the budget would be difficult if the government cannot control the market economy.

Former finance minister and co-chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani said the budget is too ambitious and almost impossible to implement.

The budget looks good from outside, but is totally void of relief programmes to people and the economy, Lohani said.

Lohani also added the budget does not represent the voice of all parties supporting the government.

Some leaders of other fringe parties also echoed Lohani's remark that the budget did not represent the voice of all 22 parties supporting the government.

Brijesh Kumar Gupta of Terai-Madhes Loktantrik Party accused the government of not consulting them while preparing the budget. About two dozen lawmakers of various parties expressed their views on the budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 presented by finance minister Surendra Pandey at the House Tuesday. The Unified CPN (Maoist), which had boycotted the discussion on the policies and programmes of the government, has boycotted the discussion on the budget also. nepalnews.com