Pokhara, 28 November| Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey of Gandaki Province announced that the provincial government will not cut expenses for any schemes or programs related to capital expenditure. Speaking at the 9th meeting of the Provincial Coordination Council in Pokhara on Thursday, he clarified that the decision to reduce current expenditure for the repair and reconstruction of damages caused by the ‘Gen Z Movement’ would not affect capital spending. He informed the meeting that the government has decided to provide financial assistance for the maintenance of offices associated with the province, including the District Administration Offices of Kaski and Tanahu, District Police Office Kaski, High Court Pokhara, and District Courts of Kaski and Tanahu.
Chief Minister Pandey stated that the working procedure has been revised to ensure that all demanding local units (Palika) receive judicial facilitators this year. Similarly, he mentioned that the procedure for the Innovation Partnership Program has been corrected to ensure that local units which did not receive support previously would be accommodated. He also informed that the province has begun drafting a law for establishing a fund for the pension of retired provincial and local level employees. CM Pandey further claimed that the federal government reduced the entry fee in the Upper Mustang area following the province’s request, urging the federal government to take the lead in building permanent structures at the Korala border point.
Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr. Takraj Gurung, estimated that while the current expenditure cut was initially targeted at around Rs 2 billion, approximately Rs 1.15 billion would be saved due to certain expenditures already being made. He projected that around Rs 2 billion would be required for post-‘Gen Z Movement’ damage repair and reconstruction. He expressed concern that revenue collection from transport and land revenue, which suffered the most damage, is expected to decrease, and potential cuts in grants from the federal government will further challenge the budget. Representatives from various local levels, including Shanti Raman Wagle (Chairman, DCC Tanahu), Dhan Bahadur BK (Chairman, Tarakhola GA.PA), Mohan Singh Lalchan (Chairman, Gharajhong GA.PA), Diwa Kumari Tilija (Vice-Chairperson, Annapurna GA.PA), Sanmaya Gurung (Vice-Chairperson, Barpak Sulikot GA.PA), and Navaraj Ojha (President, Federation of Rural Municipalities Gandaki), presented their issues and suggestions during the meeting.
