Kathmandu. As many as 43 local levels have not presented their budgets even after three months of the current fiscal year. A total of 753 local levels across the country have been unveiling their annual budget on June 24 every year.

As per the constitutional provision, the federal government will present the budget on Jestha 15 of every year, i.e. on the Republic Day. After the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, the budget has been presented accordingly. Similarly, the state government is scheduled to present the budget on June 1.

The local level has also been criticized for not fulfilling its responsibility by not presenting the budget even though it is too late than the stipulated time. According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, 135 out of 137 local levels in Koshi Province have presented their budgets. According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the budgets of Itahari Sub Metropolitan City and Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City have not been presented.

Out of the total 136 local levels in Madhes province, 102 local levels have presented their budgets. A total of 34 local units in the province are yet to present their budgets. Dakneshwari Municipality, Rajbiraj Municipality, Agnisair Krishnasavaran Rural Municipality, Chhinmasta Rural Municipality and Balan Bihul Rural Municipality of Saptari are yet to present their budgets.

Kalyanpur, Dhangadhimai Municipality, Sukhipur Municipality of Siraha, Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City, Khireshwornath Municipality, Dhanushadham Municipality, Nagarain Municipality, Mithila Municipality, Aurahi Rural Municipality, Kamala Municipality, Janaknandini Rural Municipality, Hampasur Municipality and Dhanauji Rural Municipality of Siraha have not made public their budgets for the current fiscal year.

Sonam Rural Municipality, Malangawa Municipality of Mahottari, Harion Municipality, Chandranagar Rural Municipality, Ramnagar Rural Municipality, Katahariya of Rautahat, Dewahi Gonahi Municipality, Fatuwa Bijayapur Municipality and Yamunamai Rural Municipality have not announced their budgets.

Similarly, Mahagadhimai Municipality, Subarna Rural Municipality, Bishrampur Rural Municipality of Bara, Pokhariya Rural Municipality of Parsa, Pakaha Mainpur Rural Municipality, Sakhuwa Prasauni Rural Municipality and Kalikamai Rural Municipality have not presented their budgets for the current fiscal year. Khaniyabas Rural Municipality of Dhading of Bagmati Province has not presented its budget. All the local levels of Gandaki Province have presented their budgets.

Palhinandan Rural Municipality of Nawalparasi, Kothimai Rural Municipality of Rupandehi, Suddhodhan Rural Municipality of Kapilvastu and Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City of Dang have not presented their budgets for the current fiscal year. The Chatreshwori Rural Municipality of Salyan in Karnali Province has not presented its budget. All the local levels of the far-western province have presented their budgets.

A total of 94.29 per cent levels have presented their budgets on the basis of the details submitted by the local levels through the ministry’s portal. Similarly, 5.71 per cent of the local units have not presented their budgets. It is found that the budget could not be presented due to lack of political consensus at most of the local levels.