Eight proposals on slashing expenditure on Appropriation Bill presented in HoR

Eight proposals on cutting back, in the Appropriation Bill 2024, expenses related to three ministries have been presented in a meeting of the House of Representatives today. The proposals were brought in course of discussions on the budget apportioned for these ministries in the Appropriation Bill.

Deliberations are being held on the allocation of budget for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Health and Population. The eight proposals on slashing the expenses are related to these three ministries.

In course of the deliberations, lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu presented a proposal seeking to reduce by a rupee the expenditure amount under the heading of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of the Appropriation Bill, 2081 BS.

Badu argued that financial discipline has been violated by maintaining the heading of various allowances for the officials and employees of the Ministry of Industry. He contended that the proposal on reduction of expenditure has been presented as the heading on various allowances has been kept in the Appropriation Bill, increasing the current expenditure.

Dr Amaresh Kumar Singh also presented a proposal seeking reduction in the expenditure amount under the heading of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and maintaining it at one rupee.

He alleged that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year is not able to promote domestic goods production and their marketization, arguing that economic prosperity can be achieved only if various goods and services are produced within the country. Lawmaker Singh said the citizens’ right to health has not been implemented effectively and it is also not prioritized in the budget as well.

Similarly, lawmaker Prem Suwal proposed to cut down on the amount stated in the expenditure heading related to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Health and Population.

He suggested making the economy robust through domestic capital formation and investment rather than being dependent on foreign capital. Lawmaker Suwal also called attention of the government, saying it is already late in shifting the industrial zones within the Kathmandu Valley to locations outside the Valley. He stressed on the need of prioritizing construction of Special Economic Zone and opening fair price shops in all the local units.
Suwal also called for providing land to the landless. He said the budget has failed to bring clear plans for resolving the problems seen in the health sector.

Likewise, lawmaker Bina Lama proposed to cut back the expenditure under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies heading and maintaining it at one rupee.

Lawmaker Rupa BK presented a proposal seeking to reduce the expenditure amount under the heading of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation of the Appropriation Bill and making it one rupee.

Lawmaker Gyan Bahadur Shahi has presented a proposal seeking to reduce the expenditure amount under the heading of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and maintaining at one rupee.

Lawmaker Shanti BK presented a proposal seeking to reduce to one rupee the expenditure amount under the heading of the Ministry of Health and Population.

Lawmaker Roshan Karki also presented a proposal seeking to reduce the expenditure amount under the heading of the Ministry of Health and Population and maintaining at one rupee.