BIRGUNJ: The Birgunj Metropolitan City has reduced its budget for the current fiscal year 2083/2084 by Rs 210 million. The revised budget was introduced during the 21st special municipal assembly held on Wednesday.
Mayor Rajeshman Singh presented the revised budget of Rs 4.21 billion, down from the original estimate of Rs 4.42 billion announced on June 25. Mayor Singh, who resumed his duties on Sept. 19 following an acquittal by the Special Court, led the revision process.
Under the revised allocations, the metropolitan city has set aside Rs 2.33 billion for recurrent expenditure, accounting for 56 percent of the total budget. Capital expenditure is allocated at Rs 1.81 billion, or 43 percent, while financial management accounts for Rs 70 million, or 1 percent. The budget is funded through internal revenue, federal and provincial government grants, and revenue sharing.
Mayor Singh stated that the revision was necessary due to a contraction in internal revenue, lower-than-projected receipts from fiscal equalization grants and revenue sharing, and an increase in mandatory recurrent expenses.
Deputy Mayor Imtiyaz Alam was absent from Wednesday’s assembly. The Nepali Congress Parsa chapter had previously issued a whip to its elected representatives, including the deputy mayor, ward chairs, and executive members, directing them not to participate in the session. According to the Mayor’s personal secretary Satyaraj Ghimire, 118 out of the 156 municipal assembly members attended the meeting.
