Sudurpaschim budget dispute remains unresolved as parliamentary committee stalls

Nearly a month after the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly passed the budget for the 2083/84 fiscal year, the provincial government remains mired in controversy. The government had promised to correct the budget's errors through a supplementary budget, but that process has stalled, leaving the administration facing dissent inside its own party and pressure from the opposition.

According to Gorkhapatra and Ratopati, the parliamentary study committee the government promised in order to review the budget has not been formed. Ratopati reported that Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari announced a seven-member committee at the assembly sitting on October 14 and that its report was due by November 6; the deadline passed without the committee being constituted. Ratopati quoted lawmakers as saying that the Nepali Congress's conditions, including that the assembly sit and that implementation of the budget stop except in essential areas such as hospitals and staff salaries, slowed the process further, while the provincial government's spokesperson, Prakash Rawal, said the Tihar holidays had affected the work. Gorkhapatra, reporting on November 15, said the committee was still not complete.

Internal party friction

The budget dispute has deepened tensions inside the ruling Nepali Communist Party (NCP). At a provincial consultation meeting in Dhangadhi a few days ago, most delegates expressed dissatisfaction with the budget, according to Ratopati, and Nepal Press reported that some demanded a review of the provincial government before party activities went ahead. Gorkhapatra and Ratopati reported that some party members have said the leadership may have to change if the government's working style does not improve. Chief Minister Khagraj Bhatta answered the criticism by saying that, in a coalition government, it is hard to satisfy everyone, Nepal Press and Ratopati reported. Ratopati also reports that Bhatta says there is no budget dispute of the kind being rumoured outside. Against that, Gorkhapatra, Ratopati and Nepal Press all report that the government itself acknowledged errors in the budget during the assembly debate, and Ratopati reported that members of the ruling parties had objected to it.

The opposition Nepali Congress has long demanded the government's resignation and, Gorkhapatra reported, shouted slogans to that effect in the assembly a few days ago. Ratopati also reported that Veer Bahadur Thapa, a provincial assembly member from the coalition partner UML, has resigned, citing dissatisfaction with the budget.

Financial constraints and outlook

Ratopati reported that lawmakers, including those of the ruling parties, objected that the budget, which totals more than Rs 37.70 billion, cut the money set aside for large projects and spread it over small, fragmented ones. According to Ratopati, much of the budget depends on federal grants, revenue sharing and an expected Rs 9.65 billion in savings from the previous fiscal year, and an employee of the provincial government told the outlet that without resources it would be hard to bring a supplementary budget.

Gorkhapatra reported that development work due this year has been pushed back, and quoted Dharmaraj Pathak, chair of the assembly's Social Development Committee and a UML member, as saying the dispute has left the province far behind on development.

Nepal Press reported that delegates at the Dhangadhi meeting asked for NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal to be called to Dhangadhi to discuss the matter, and that a party source said preparations for their visit were under way. It also said the opposition's obstruction has left the next sitting of the provincial assembly uncertain. As of Gorkhapatra's report on November 15, neither the review committee nor the supplementary budget had moved forward.