KATHMANDU: Recent report published by the Office of the Auditor General shows that six metropolitan cities, with more than Rs 4.63 billion rupees booked as arrears, are among the local levels having highest percent of financial irregularities.

According to a report made public by the Office of the Auditor General on Friday, Kathmandu Metropolis has got nearly Rs 2 billion as irregularities in the fiscal year 2020/21.

Out of the Rs 16.36 billion audited by the Auditor General, 11.86 percent was found unaccounted. The total audited amount is Rs. 1.94 billion.

After Kathmandu, Birgunj Metropolitan City has the largest portion of the irregularities. Out of the Rs 9.16 billion audited amount, Rs 756.7 million is unaccounted for. This is 8.26 percent.

Similarly, after Birgunj, the unpaid amount of Pokhara Metropolitan City is also remarkably high.

Out of the 9.51 billion audit amount of Pokhara metropolis, 705.7 million has been found unaccounted for. This amount is 7.42 percent of the audited amount.

At the same time, it is mentioned in the report of the Comptroller General that the irregularities of Lalitpur Municipal Corporation has also increased.

Out of the audited amount of Rs. 9.31 billion, Rs. 673 million is unaccounted for. This is 7.22 percent of the total audited amount.

Likewise, Biratnagar Metropolitan City has 3.41 percent and Bharatpur Metropolitan City has 2.02 percent of the audited amount as irregularities, the report said.

So far, out of the audit amount of Rs. 62.87 billion for six metropolitan cities, this year’s irregularities has been Rs. 4.63 billion.

Total amount of the arrears in the name of six metropolises has reached Rs 12.29 billion so far.