KATHMANDU: As three months of the current fiscal year pass, 43 local levels have not yet presented their budgets.

Nationwide, there are 753 local levels that generally announce their annual budgets by Ashar 10 (June last week) each year. The Constitution mandates that the federal government present its budget on Jestha 15 (May last week), coinciding with Republic Day.

Since the adoption of Nepal’s Constitution, budgets have been presented in this manner. Likewise, provincial governments have been submitting their budgets on Ashar 1 (Mid-June). Despite the deadline having long passed, local levels have not fulfilled their budgetary responsibilities.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration reports that out of 137 local levels in Koshi Province, 135 have submitted their budgets. Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City and Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City in this province have not yet presented their budgets.

In Madhes Province, of the 136 local levels, 102 have submitted their budgets, leaving 34 local levels that have not done so.

As per the ministry, the Dakneshwari Municipality, Rajbiraj Municipality, Agnisair Krishnasavaran Rural Municipality, Chhinnmasta Rural Municipality, and Balan Bihul Rural Municipality in Saptari have failed to submit their budgets.

In Siraha, Kalyanpur, Dhangadhimai Municipality, and Sukhipur Municipality, as well as in Dhanusha, Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City, Kshireswor Nath Municipality, Dhanushadham Municipality, Nagrai Municipality, Mithila Municipality, Aurahi Rural Municipality, Kamala Municipality, Janaknandini Rural Municipality, Hanpasur Municipality, and Dhanauji Rural Municipality, the current fiscal year’s budgets have not been published.

In Mahottari, both Sonama Rural Municipality and Malangwa Municipality, along with Harivan Municipality, Chandranagar Rural Municipality, and Ramnagar Rural Municipality in Sarlahi, and in Rautahat, Kathariya, Devahi Gonahi Municipality, Fatuwa Bijaypur Municipality, and Yamunamai Rural Municipality have also not presented their budgets.
Additionally, according to the ministry’s report, Mahagadhimai Municipality, Subarna Rural Municipality, Bishrampur Rural Municipality in Bara, Pokhariya, Pakaha Mainpur Rural Municipality, Sakhuwa Prasauni Rural Municipality, and Kalikamai Rural Municipality in Parsa have not submitted the budget for the current fiscal year.

Khaniyabas Rural Municipality in Dhading, Bagmati Province has also failed to submit its budget. However, all local levels in Gandaki Province have successfully presented their budgets in time.

In Lumbini Province, the ministry’s report indicates that Palhinandan Rural Municipality in Nawalparasi, Kotahimai Rural Municipality in Rupandehi, Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality in Kapilvastu, and Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City in Dang have not yet presented their current fiscal year budgets.

The Chhatreshwari Rural Municipality in Salyan in Karnali Province, has yet to submit its budget. In contrast, all local units within Sudurpashchim Province have successfully presented their budgets.

According to the data entered by the respective local units on the Ministry’s portal, it has been determined that 94.29 percent of these units have submitted their budgets.

Conversely, 5.71 percent of the local units have failed to present their budgets. The primary reason for the inability to present budgets in most local units appears to be the absence of political consensus.