UML Ministers Directed to Select Projects Only After Securing Funding Sources

Dhangadhi: The Parliamentary Party has directed CPN (UML) ministers serving in the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government to adopt a policy of “first determining funding sources and budget ceilings, then setting priorities, and only then selecting projects.”

The directive was issued after the party unanimously passed various decisions during a meeting held on Wednesday regarding the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 and the operation of the government.

The directive, issued by Parliamentary Party Leader Rajendra Singh Rawal, states that UML ministers in the provincial government must carry out their duties in accordance with the party’s policies, programs, and minimum common commitments.

The directive instructs ministers to study the status of revenue and expenditure for the current fiscal year, ministerial expenditure progress, liabilities for multi-year and ongoing projects, the status of incomplete or stalled projects, as well as federal grants and the province’s internal revenue sources, even before the budget ceiling is announced.

Emphasis has also been placed on identifying the actual financial resources available for the upcoming budget and formulating a common stance on determining the budget ceiling.

The Parliamentary Party has directed that fragmented and populist (distributive) projects be discouraged, while priority should be given to incomplete projects and those nearing completion. It has also instructed that priority be given to programs that boost production and employment and increase the province’s internal revenue.

Additionally, instructions were issued to increase capital expenditure, reduce unnecessary recurrent expenditure, and exclude large projects lacking adequate preparatory work from the budget.

The meeting also decided that the budget must be distributed across all districts in an equitable and indicator-based manner. A decision has been made to identify “game-changing” projects for Sudurpaschim Province and prepare a preliminary list of potential “Provincial Pride” and transformative projects before the budget ceiling is received.

Additionally, it has been decided that every minister must formulate a 100-day action plan and have it reviewed by the Parliamentary Party.

Each ministry is required to review its projects and the current budget to prepare a priority list prior to receiving the budget ceiling.

Directives have also been issued to ensure regular coordination between ministers serving in the government and the Parliamentary Party, and to facilitate necessary consultations with the party regarding significant policy, budgetary, and legal matters.

The meeting emphasized the need for a clear division of responsibilities between governmental coordination and party-related duties. Parliamentary Party Leader Rawal held a collective discussion with the ministers serving in the government and instructed them to deliver result-oriented work that guarantees good governance in the province.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Social Development Santosh Sharma Thapa, Minister for Economic Affairs Chakra Malla, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives Daman Bhandari, and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Janaki Bam Air. Former Minister Bir Bahadur Thapa was also present at the meeting.