Adequate Budget to Be Provided for Projects Set to Complete This Fiscal Year: Minister Bhatta

Dhangadhi: Om Bikram Bhatta ('Saral'), the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development of Sudurpaschim Province, has stated that the provincial government will allocate sufficient budget for projects capable of being completed within the current fiscal year.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, as the provincial government is in the process of formulating the budget for the current fiscal year, Minister Bhatta announced that adequate funds would be allocated to projects slated for completion this year. He noted, however, that for projects that have not yet commenced or have faced issues due to technical reasons or contractor-related problems, the government would proceed by pursuing appropriate legal avenues.

Minister Bhatta asserted that he had not discussed cutting the budget or reducing the financial liabilities under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development. He mentioned that his very first decision was to form a task force to investigate and study multi-year contracts, and that the task force is currently at work.

“We are studying why projects have stalled—whether due to contractors, budget issues, or technical reasons. I will certainly make the report public,” he said.

Minister Bhatta also noted that the current situation of a ‘budget vacuum’ arose due to budgetary issues and indicated that the budget would be revised and reintroduced.