KARNALI: The Karnali Province government had presented a budget of Rs 36.54 billion for the upcoming fiscal 2021/22.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Gopal Sharma presented the budget Tuesday prioritizing containing COVID-19 pandemic, promoting agricultural development, infrastructure development among others. According to Minister Sharma, Rs 21.65 billion has been allocated towards capital expenditure while Rs 11.49 billion towards current expenditure.
The budget is about three billion larger in comparison to the current fiscal year budget.
The budget further states that Rs 3. 39 billion has been allocated for fiscal transfer to local levels in the province. The province government has estimated to receive Rs 600 million from internal revenues in the upcoming year.
While presenting the budget, Minister Sharma said that the budget was prepared prioritizing the health, agriculture, employment generation, infrastructure development and revitalization of economic activities slacked by the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that over Rs 530 million has been allocated to contain the pandemic.
Minister Sharma further shared that the government was prioritizing upgrading the hospitals in the province. He announced to upgrade Surkhet hospital to 500-bed hospital while Dolpa, Humla and Mugu hospitals to 50-bed hospitals and Salyan Hospital to 100-bws hospital. The budget has stated to establish oxygen plants and health desk in different locations in the provinces.
For the holistic upgrade of the health system in the province, Rs 2.61 billion has been allocated in the budget. Similarly, the government has allocated Rs 7.29 billion towards infrastructure development and upgrading transport system in the province.
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