Lawmakers have once again started lobbying for raising budget for the constituency infrastructure program.
They have been lobbying for increase in the budget they can spend on projects of their choice every year. The government last year had allocated Rs 40 million for each constituency that could be spent in the current fiscal year in a way that the directly elected lawmaker had a final say.
The Finance Committee of the parliament, that includes former finance ministers Baburam Bhattarai, Bishnu Paudel, Surendra Pandey and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, has started lobbying for a raise in that amount.
The Finance Committee had inserted a question--what should be improved in local infrastructure development program--in the form prepared for collecting suggestions from the local level for the upcoming budget.
The committee had conducted the survey on 485 individuals, out of whom 251 were provincial and local elected representatives, in 10 districts. The committee has revealed that 242 of the respondents have advised increase in the amount.
The question inserted by the committee to put pressure on the Finance Ministry had four options to improve the program including continuing the current model, increasing amount, cancelling the program, and own opinion as options.
A total of 96 opted for the option of continuity, 40 for cancelling the program, and 108 gave their own suggestions.
The Constituency Infrastructure Program is being implemented even in the provinces. The elected representatives are attracted toward such program that allows them to spend on the projects of their choice.
Lawmakers elected through the proportional representation (PR) system during the Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday had demanded they also be given Rs 40 million to spend on their constituency.
Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada replied that the working procedure for spending can be amended but amount cannot be given.
