KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, has claimed that the budget allocation under the Ministry is balanced.

In his replies to queries from lawmakers during the deliberations on the Appropriation Bill- 2082 BS related to his Ministry in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister said the budget allocation to the Ministry is within the ceiling, proportional and geographically, demographically and provincially balanced.

He went on to say that the budget for the Bagamati Province is relatively higher as projects for the construction of ministers’ quarters, quarters for VVIPS, and Bancharedanda Sanitary Landfill sites are based in the province. He denied any sort of influence or access in the budget appropriation, claiming the need basis as the guideline for the allocations.

Major urban economic corridors such as Itahari–Damak–Kakarbhitta, Butwal–Bhairahawa, and Bhimdatta–Attariya–Dhangadhi were given priority during the budget allocation, bearing in mind their strategic importance in urban development, he added.

According to him, the New Town Project has been launched for the planned development of new towns along the Mid-Hill Highway. Similarly, recognising the need for urban development in other areas as well, the concept of ‘smart cities’ has been introduced.

He added that the Urban Infrastructure Technology and Training Centre is conducting research to find an alternative to corrugated zinc sheets before implementing the plan to replace thatched roofs with such materials in the Terai and hill regions, under the Safe Citizen Housing Programme, in light of growing global warming concerns.